Scottish engineers have developed a self-levelling railway sleeper made from recycled plastic that could help railway tracks correct minor unevenness without requiring workers to carry out repairs manually. The technology, developed by researchers at Heriot-Watt University alongside international collaborators, is designed to address one of the railway industry's persistent maintenance problems, particularly around bridges and tunnels. According to Heriot-Watt University, the innovation could improve track stability, reduce maintenance costs and minimise passenger disruption while giving discarded plastic a useful role in railway infrastructure.
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