In the coming months, the partnership will explore the technical and economic viability of smart sleepers, which could be used to support predictive maintenance of track and trains.

The two companies say the agreement also extends to the joint development of other products and solutions for the rail industry, as well as pilot projects for customers and research & development centres.

Greenrail sleepers comprise an outer cover made of a blend of End of Life Tyres (ELTs) and recycled plastic encasing a pre-stressed, reinforced concrete inner core. Up to 35 tonnes of ELT and plastics can be reused in 1km of track (1670 sleepers).