17.04.12
Upgrade for Eastleigh increases recycled rail
A rail recycling depot upgrade could save Network Rail up to £4m each year as it produces recycled rail out of old track.
The Eastleigh rail depot can now produce 216m lengths of serviceable rail, up to 70% cheaper than new rail, which can be safely used on low volume and rural routes. The depot can produce up to 10,000 tonnes of this rail, around 8% of Network Rail’s total purchase.
When old rail is replaced, it is inspected to assess how much is potentially reuseable and tested before being processed at the depot.
The depot upgrade was delivered on budget and six months ahead of schedule.
Martin Elwood, director of Network Rail’s national delivery service which runs the depot, said: “Recycling old rail into serviceable rail which can be used elsewhere on the network reduces the volume of rail which is scrapped and the amount of new steel used by Network Rail, both of which save money and are better for the environment.
“Network Rail is committed to reducing costs and this is the latest initiative which is helping the railway become a more efficient industry.”
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