A press release from Network Rail amused me for the headline grabbing potential, although the press release title was somewhat drier.
PLASTIC FANTASTIC: RECYCLED SLEEPERS SET TO ROLL OUT ACROSS THE NETWORK
Everyday waste could form part of the railway of the future as Network Rail trials a new form of rail sleeper made from recycled plastic.
The trial will see around two tonnes of waste material recycled to form the new sleepers which will replace timber ones along some of the rural lines on the network.
http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=4176&NewsAreaID=2
I wonder if we could have the sleepers sponsored by Coke bottles?
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I think “two tonnes” should probably read “200 tonnes”. Each sleeper will weigh around 80kgs and Network Rail replaces 185,000 wooden sleepers alone per year.