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Monday 14 Apr 2025

Network Rail wins award for environmentally friendly sleeper innovation

Region & Route:

Wales & Western: Western

The groundbreaking ‘hedgehog’ sleeper design, funded by Network Rail’s Wales & Western region and designed, tested and manufactured by Lankhorst Engineered Products, has been awarded the Spotlight Net Zero Pioneer Award.

Made of 90% recycled materials, the KLP® Hybrid Polymer “Hedgehog” Track Sleeper- nicknamed for its resemblance to hedgehogs nestling beneath the rails- will last at least twice as long as their concrete counterparts and can be laid mechanically, making replacement quicker and easier. Roll-out of this game-changing innovation will begin in early 2026.

Sleepers have been found to account for 30 per cent of the carbon embedded within railway infrastructure, so Network Rail looked for technology to reduce the carbon emissions generated by manufacturing them and to make sleepers more resilient to climate change. The polymer hedgehog sleepers contain 90 per cent less embedded carbon than wooden sleepers and 78 per cent less than those made from concrete.

Network Rail currently installs around 350,000 concrete sleepers annually. If those were to be replaced with hedgehog sleepers, it could represent an annual carbon footprint reduction of approximately 24.5 million kilograms of carbon dioxide; the equivalent of taking 12,250 family cars off the road annually.

In addition, approximately 150,000 wooden sleepers are replaced each year – if the new hedgehog sleepers were used instead, similar carbon equivalent savings could be made.

Nick Matthews, head of Transformation and Continuous Improvement for Network Rail’s South Rail Systems Alliance, said:

“I’m delighted the hedgehog sleeper design has been recognised for its potential to significantly reduce the carbon impact of the railway.

“Rail is already the greenest form of public transport and we’re determined to continue making its credentials even stronger with innovations like this one.” 

Aran van Belkom, Technical Director for Lankhorst Engineered Products, said:

“This project is a good fit with our purpose: think limitless, act sustainable for future generations. We appreciate Network Rail’s engagement to set a new industrial standard.”

The Spotlight Net Zero Pioneer Award recognises organisations or individuals who have demonstrated measurable success in reducing carbon emissions in rail infrastructure and construction.

To find out more about Network Rail’s 30-year sustainability strategy, visit: Environmental Sustainability Strategy - Network Rail

ENDS