(21/12/2022) 



Plastic and synthetic sleepers have been placed on the Alcázar de San Juan-Cádiz line as it passes through Jaen. They were installed in sections of tunnel 10 of the line and the metallic bridge over the Guarrizas river, to be precise. A total of 290 plastic sleepers, provided by different suppliers, were installed in sections currently in service, adding up to a length of 174 metres.

These sleepers are made of recyclable, non-polluting materials. In addition to being a more environmentally sustainable option than concrete and wood, among the advantages of plastic sleepers are a lifespan of more than 50 years, their versatility and elasticity, and greater insulation and atmospheric resistance. Adif’s team has been inspecting the sleepers regularly since they were installed at the start of this year and analysis has shown positive results.

Concrete sleepers have gradually been replacing the original wooden sleepers, both for their better performance and maintenance, as well as for environmental considerations. However, it has still been necessary to consider those made of wood in certain points of the railway infrastructure, such as, precisely, the metal sections, tunnels with certain characteristics and certain detours. The synthetic or plastic sleeper is now emerging as a possible alternative for these cases.