Read Time:5 Minute, 21 Second

Railway Plastic Sleeper: A Sustainable and Durable Solution

Railway Plastic sleeper, also known as plastic railroad ties, is a type of sleeper made from a strong plastic called Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE). Sleepers are an essential component of the railway track system. They support the rails and transfer the load to the ballast. Traditionally, railway sleepers are made of wood, concrete or steel. However, these materials have some drawbacks, such as:

Wood sleepers are susceptible to rot, decay, insect attack and fire. They also require toxic preservatives that can leach into the environment. Wood sleepers have a short lifespan of about 14 years and are mainly sourced from unsustainable hardwood forests.
Concrete sleepers are heavy, brittle and prone to cracking. They also require a lot of energy and resources to produce and transport. Concrete sleepers have a long lifespan of about 50 years, but they are difficult to recycle and dispose of.
Steel sleepers are expensive, noisy and thermally conductive. They also corrode and require regular maintenance. Steel sleepers have a moderate lifespan of about 30 years, but they are not widely used due to their high cost and environmental impact.

To overcome these challenges, a new type of railway sleeper has emerged: railway plastic sleeper. Plastic sleeper is a composite material made of recycled plastic waste, such as bottles, food packaging, agricultural plastic and mining pipe. Plastic sleeper has many advantages over conventional sleepers, such as:

Railway Plastic sleeper is lightweight, flexible and resilient. It can withstand high impact, vibration and temperature changes. It also has a low coefficient of thermal expansion and contraction, which reduces the risk of track buckling and misalignment.
Plastic sleeper is resistant to water, oil, chemicals and fungi. It does not rot, decay, split or degrade over time. It also does not require any preservatives, coatings or treatments. Plastic sleeper has a long lifespan of over 50 years and can be reused, repurposed or recycled at the end of its life.
Plastic sleeper is environmentally friendly and economical. It reduces the consumption of natural resources and the generation of greenhouse gas emissions. It also saves the cost of production, transportation and maintenance. Plastic sleeper is made of locally sourced plastic waste that would otherwise end up in landfills or oceans.
Plastic sleeper is a promising technology that has been adopted by several railway operators around the world. For example, in the UK, Network Rail has installed the first plastic sleepers on its main line tracks in Wiltshire, using a product manufactured by Scot Ltd. In Australia, Integrated Recycling has supplied plastic sleepers to various rail projects, including the Melbourne Metro Tunnel and the Adelaide to Tarcoola Rail Upgrade. In India, the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) has issued a standard specification for composite sleepers, based on the laboratory testing done on sleepers obtained by Indian Railways.
Railway Plastic sleeper is a sustainable and durable solution that can improve the performance, safety and reliability of the railway track system. It can also contribute to the circular economy and the net zero carbon goal of the rail industry. Plastic sleeper is a material of the future that can revolutionise the railway sector.

Why Choose Plastic Railway Sleeper

You may choose plastic railway sleeper for several reasons, such as:

Plastic railway sleeper is a sustainable and durable solution that can improve the performance, safety and reliability of the railway track system. It can also contribute to the circular economy and the net zero carbon goal of the rail industry.
Plastic railway sleeper is made of recycled plastic waste, which reduces the consumption of natural resources and the generation of greenhouse gas emissions. It also saves the cost of production, transportation and maintenance. Plastic railway sleeper is made of locally sourced plastic waste that would otherwise end up in landfills or oceans.
Plastic railway sleeper is lightweight, flexible and resilient. It can withstand high impact, vibration and temperature changes. It also has a low coefficient of thermal expansion and contraction, which reduces the risk of track buckling and misalignment.
Plastic railway sleeper is resistant to water, oil, chemicals and fungi. It does not rot, decay, split or degrade over time. It also does not require any preservatives, coatings or treatments.
Plastic railway sleeper has a long lifespan of over 50 years and can be reused, repurposed or recycled at the end of its life.
Plastic railway sleeper is suitable for all types of rail sections and gauges, and can be easily cut and installed. It is also good insulators and can facilitate track circuiting.

Density	0.92-0.96 g/cm3
Tensile Strength at Yield	15-20 Mpa
Notched Impact Strength	80-170 kj/m2
Impact Intensity	100-160 kg/m3
Abrasion Resistance (sand slurry test)	70-120%
Wearing Coefficient	0.15
Shore Hardness D	63-68o

Advantages of railway plastic sleepers:

They are lightweight, flexible and resilient. They can withstand high impact, vibration and temperature changes. They also have a low coefficient of thermal expansion and contraction, which reduces the risk of track buckling and misalignment.
They are resistant to water, oil, chemicals and fungi. They do not rot, decay, split or degrade over time. They also do not require any preservatives, coatings or treatments.
They have a long lifespan of over 50 years and can be reused, repurposed or recycled at the end of their life.
They are environmentally friendly and economical. They reduce the consumption of natural resources and the generation of greenhouse gas emissions. They also save the cost of production, transportation and maintenance. They are made of locally sourced plastic waste that would otherwise end up in landfills or oceans.
They are suitable for all types of rail sections and gauges, and can be easily cut and installed. They are also good insulators and can facilitate track circuiting.

Disadvantages of railway plastic sleepers:

They are more expensive than wood and concrete sleepers, and may not be affordable for some railway operators.
They have lower strength and stiffness than concrete sleepers, and may not be suitable for high-speed or heavy-load rails.
They have lower creep resistance than wood and concrete sleepers, and may need more frequent adjustments to maintain the track geometry.
They may be affected by ultraviolet radiation, which can cause fading and cracking of the plastic surface.
They may pose a fire hazard if exposed to high temperatures or flames, and may release toxic fumes when burned.