Composite railway sleepers made from recycled plastics have been installed on Network Rail mainline tracks for the first time.
The new technology has been installed across the weight-restricted Sherrington Viaduct, between Salisbury and Warminster. Previously, track across the viaduct would have had to be fitted with wooden sleepers, as concrete would have been too heavy for the structure.
But from 31 July this year, creosote-treated softwood sleepers will be banned and the alternative is sleepers made with hardwood. The new composite sleepers are manufactured by Sicut in the UK using a blend of locally-sourced plastic waste that may otherwise end up at landfill.
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