Railway sleepers

Fibre composite sleepers

After successful completion of the feasibility study into the use of fibre composite railway sleepers in 2003, the CEEFC undertook further development of the composite railway sleepers in 2004. This development involved a review of current sleeper design methods, analysis of the rail-sleeper-ballast-substructure system to determine the design requirements and appropriate safety factors, detailed computer analysis and laboratory testing, and production trials.

A trial section of track was manufactured to determine if the rail clips could be located with sufficient accuracy in a production trial, and also to trial manufacturing techniques. 

Project partners

Queensland Rail

CEEFC Project coordinator

Prof Gerard Van Erp