November 2022
Railway Infrastructure - Infraestruturas de Portugal
Why this case?
Evaluation of the reuse/recycling potential of railway superstructure elements
Full-track renovation is a common type of intervention on railway networks. It is a cyclical procedure and in the current and next investment cycle in Portugal will be very significant. For this reason, the evaluation of reuse/recycling potentials and their percentages, using as reference a section that will suffer this type of intervention in the near future, was found of interest.
The objective of this case study is to find and compare the economic value (relevant to the investment) and weight (relevant to the circularity aspect) of the different elements that compose the railway tracks and to compare the results focusing on the objectives set out in the legislation in terms of waste reduction and product reuse.
The analysis involved a 100-meter stretch of the Northern line, full track section, including the ballast layer, sleepers, rails and fasteners.
Case study contributions:
- Demonstration on how the objectives set out in the legal framework regarding the incorporation of recycled materials can be achieved and surpassed;
- Decision-making support, depending on the specific cases, on the relevance of the different elements (by weight) to meet the reuse/recycling objectives;
- Training to draw up Construction and Demolition Waste Management Plans using data from pre-intervention audits;
- Legal and regulatory challenges regarding the characterization and validation of track elements as waste/material suitable for reuse.
Case Details
Railway Infrastructure
- Project
Northern line
- Location
Ovar
- Owner
Infraestruturas de Portugal, IP
- Intervention
Railway track replacement
Overview
The different steps of the project
All case studies follow the same structure and similar approach setting the background for guidelines, innovative processes, or sustainability goals disclosure.
- 01
Case History
Evaluation of the reuse/recycling potential of a 100-meter long section of railway track, double tracks, to identify ways of meeting the target set out in current legislation (10%, according Article 28(5) of the Portuguese Law on waste management 52/2021).
- 02
Case Plan
Case study identifying the condition of the elements and their characteristics on site (outside the reserved perimeter of the railway domain). Consultation of available technical elements, relevant documentation and legislation.
- 03
Case Development
Application of considerations regarding the condition of the different track elements and their potentials: reuse, recycling, and others. Assessment of economic relevance (new and after-use elements) and evaluation of their contribution to the circularity objectives (weights).
Evaluation of maximum, average and minimum scenarios to obtain percentages of reuse/recycling potential.
- 04
Case Outcomes
Demonstration of the differences, in terms of the relevance of the different elements that compose the track superstructure, in the economic and circularity dimensions.
Forecasting findings for future processes.
Discussion on the challenges regarding specific elements, namely aggregates. Possible classifications, clarification of the processes/certification for providing classification and mechanisms for their reintroduction in the market (circularity achievment).
