As governments, industries and communities face growing pressure to decarbonise and build resilient infrastructure, the rail sector is quietly leading the charge in a crucial area: the circular economy.
From the reuse of 100-year-old sleepers to the reconditioning of thousands of tonnes of ballast, the rail industry is showing that economic efficiency and environmental responsibility can – and must – go hand in hand. Temple works with organisations to transform their infrastructure planning and delivery through circular principles – and the rail sector offers some of the most compelling examples yet.
What Is the Circular Economy – and Why Rail?
Unlike the traditional linear economy – take, make, dispose – the circular economy keeps materials in use for as long as possible, extracts maximum value from them, and aims to regenerate natural systems. For rail, where assets can last decades and infrastructure spans generations, it’s an ideal approach to embed.
The rail industry is uniquely positioned to reduce its environmental impact through circular models: long asset lifespans, extensive material use, and ongoing maintenance cycles mean there are countless opportunities to design waste out and keep resources circulating, as seen in the following case studies:
Case Studies on Track with Circular Thinking
Network Rail: Ballast with a second life
One of the most tangible examples comes from Network Rail, which now reuses and blends old track ballast with new material, achieving both cost savings and project benefits. With partners like Land Recovery, Network Rail is embedding circularity into future contracts, targeting a saving of 500,000 tonnes of material and £1 million annually.
HS2: From spoil to sustainability
The UK’s largest infrastructure project isn’t just about speed – it’s about sustainability. HS2 Ltd has reused over 1.35 million cubic metres of excavated spoil on-site, while precast modular construction is helping to reduce lifecycle impacts and waste. Lifecycle assessments are allowing circular approaches to guide design, material selection and procurement from the outset, reducing environmental impact and extending asset life.
Dutch Railways: A world leader in reuse
Setting a global benchmark, Dutch Railways (NS) is achieving a 96% reuse rate for rolling stock components, with plans to recover 57.6 million kg of valuable materials from 1,000 train units by 2028, with up to 97% of parts recovered through sustainable disassembly. Digital tracking systems and modular design support their goals of 100% material recovery, component reuse and supply chain circularity.
SNCF Réseau: Low-carbon rails
In France, SNCF and Saarstahl Rail are aiming to produce sustainable rails that emit 70% less CO2e than traditional rails. They do this by producing new rails from both old rails and recycled steel in electric arc furnaces, and by reusing rails removed from their network.
Deutsche Bahn: High-Volume Recycling
In 2020, Germany’s Deutsche Bahn (DB) reconditioned over 240,000 concrete sleepers (c. 72,000 tons) and recycled more than half a million tonnes of ballast; 10% of all installed concrete sleepers and 16% of all installed ballast. Materials unsuitable for railway reuse were diverted to other sectors, such as road construction; As a result, they are making good progress on their 95% recycling rate commitment across all waste streams.
The Global Centre of Rail Excellence (GCRE): Innovation from reuse
Located in South Wales, GCRE is repurposing thousands of reused sleepers and miles of rail from Network Rail upgrades for its cutting-edge test centre. This includes 2 miles of track and 4,900 sleepers that were replaced as part of the Severn Tunnel upgrade. A circular mindset is embedded into its construction ethos from day one.
Finnish West Rail Project: Technology unlocking circularity
Facing 8 million cubic metres of surplus material from excavations, this project is leveraging tech platforms like ORIS to manage and repurpose that material back into the project, or across nearby projects; reducing waste, CO2 emissions and costs in a clear case of digital meets sustainable.
Policy Backing and Standards That Support the Shift
This transition isn’t happening in a vacuum. Key policies and guidance like the UK Government’s Resources and Waste Strategy (2018), Transport Decarbonisation Plan (2021), and PAS 2080 for carbon management are helping drive change. Sector-specific tools like Network Rail’s SURPLUS App are making circularity operational.
How We Help Rail Go Circular
At Temple, we help infrastructure clients unlock the business and environmental value of the circular economy. Our services include:
- Circular economy assessments for rail and infrastructure projects
- Lifecycle analysis to inform low-impact material choices
- Training and stakeholder engagement to embed circular principles
- Digital tools and platforms that enable material reuse at scale
- Strategy Development of carbon reduction and net zero plans; setting targets and action plans to meet them.
We work with public and private sector clients to shift the mindset from compliance to opportunity and to deliver whole lifecycle benefits.
Destination: Net Zero and Beyond
Circular economy thinking in rail is more than just a sustainability buzzword; it’s a real opportunity for resilience, cost savings, and carbon reduction. As pressure mounts to meet climate targets, the rail sector’s good practice examples offer a clear message: the future is circular, and it’s already arriving.
Interested in exploring circular opportunities in your rail or infrastructure project?
Contact Temple to find out how we can help you go further with less.