Network Rail has been recognised for its groundbreaking environmentally friendly sleeper innovation, the ‘hedgehog’ design, securing the prestigious Spotlight Net Zero Pioneer Award.
The innovative sleeper, funded by Network Rail’s Wales & Western region and expertly designed, tested, and manufactured by Lankhorst Engineered Products, has been lauded for its potential to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of railway infrastructure.
Nicknamed the “Hedgehog” Track Sleeper due to its resemblance to hedgehogs nestling beneath the rails, the KLP® Hybrid Polymer design is constructed from an impressive 90% recycled materials. This game-changing innovation boasts a lifespan at least twice as long as traditional concrete sleepers and offers the advantage of mechanical installation, promising quicker and more efficient replacements. The roll-out of these sleepers is scheduled to commence in early 2026.
The environmental benefits are substantial, as sleepers have been identified as contributing 30 per cent of the carbon embedded within railway infrastructure. Network Rail sought a solution to diminish carbon emissions during manufacturing and enhance the resilience of sleepers to the impacts of climate change. The polymer hedgehog sleepers achieve this by containing 90 per cent less embedded carbon than wooden sleepers and 78 per cent less than their concrete counterparts.
Network Rail currently installs approximately 350,000 concrete sleepers each year. Replacing these with hedgehog sleepers could lead to an estimated annual carbon footprint reduction of around 24.5 million kilograms of carbon dioxide – equivalent to taking a staggering 12,250 family cars off the road annually.
Furthermore, with approximately 150,000 wooden sleepers replaced each year, adopting the new hedgehog sleepers in these instances could yield similar significant carbon equivalent savings.
Nick Matthews, head of Transformation and Continuous Improvement for Network Rail’s South Rail Systems Alliance, expressed his delight at the recognition:
“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, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the alignment of the project with their company ethos:
“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 celebrates organisations and individuals demonstrating tangible success in lowering carbon emissions within rail infrastructure and construction. This award underscores the significant potential of the ‘hedgehog’ sleeper to contribute to a more sustainable railway network in the UK.
For further details on Network Rail’s 30-year sustainability strategy, please visit: Network Rail’s ‘Hedgehog’ Sleeper Scoops Top Environmental Award
Barton-upon-Humber, England – Network Rail has been recognised for its groundbreaking environmentally friendly sleeper innovation, the ‘hedgehog’ design, securing the prestigious Spotlight Net Zero Pioneer Award.
The innovative sleeper, funded by Network Rail’s Wales & Western region and expertly designed, tested, and manufactured by Lankhorst Engineered Products, has been lauded for its potential to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of railway infrastructure.
Nicknamed the “Hedgehog” Track Sleeper due to its resemblance to hedgehogs nestling beneath the rails, the KLP® Hybrid Polymer design is constructed from an impressive 90% recycled materials. This game-changing innovation boasts a lifespan at least twice as long as traditional concrete sleepers and offers the advantage of mechanical installation, promising quicker and more efficient replacements. The roll-out of these sleepers is scheduled to commence in early 2026.
The environmental benefits are substantial, as sleepers have been identified as contributing 30 per cent of the carbon embedded within railway infrastructure. Network Rail sought a solution to diminish carbon emissions during manufacturing and enhance the resilience of sleepers to the impacts of climate change. The polymer hedgehog sleepers achieve this by containing 90 per cent less embedded carbon than wooden sleepers and 78 per cent less than their concrete counterparts.
Network Rail currently installs approximately 350,000 concrete sleepers each year. Replacing these with hedgehog sleepers could lead to an estimated annual carbon footprint reduction of around 24.5 million kilograms of carbon dioxide – equivalent to taking a staggering 12,250 family cars off the road annually.
Furthermore, with approximately 150,000 wooden sleepers replaced each year, adopting the new hedgehog sleepers in these instances could yield similar significant carbon equivalent savings.
Nick Matthews, head of Transformation and Continuous Improvement for Network Rail’s South Rail Systems Alliance, expressed his delight at the recognition:
“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, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the alignment of the project with their company ethos:
“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 celebrates organisations and individuals demonstrating tangible success in lowering carbon emissions within rail infrastructure and construction. This award underscores the significant potential of the ‘hedgehog’ sleeper to contribute to a more sustainable railway network in the UK.
For further details on Network Rail’s 30-year sustainability strategy, please visit: Network Rail’s ‘Hedgehog’ Sleeper Scoops Top Environmental Award
Barton-upon-Humber, England – Network Rail has been recognised for its groundbreaking environmentally friendly sleeper innovation, the ‘hedgehog’ design, securing the prestigious Spotlight Net Zero Pioneer Award.
The innovative sleeper, funded by Network Rail’s Wales & Western region and expertly designed, tested, and manufactured by Lankhorst Engineered Products, has been lauded for its potential to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of railway infrastructure.
Nicknamed the “Hedgehog” Track Sleeper due to its resemblance to hedgehogs nestling beneath the rails, the KLP® Hybrid Polymer design is constructed from an impressive 90% recycled materials. This game-changing innovation boasts a lifespan at least twice as long as traditional concrete sleepers and offers the advantage of mechanical installation, promising quicker and more efficient replacements. The roll-out of these sleepers is scheduled to commence in early 2026.
The environmental benefits are substantial, as sleepers have been identified as contributing 30 per cent of the carbon embedded within railway infrastructure. Network Rail sought a solution to diminish carbon emissions during manufacturing and enhance the resilience of sleepers to the impacts of climate change. The polymer hedgehog sleepers achieve this by containing 90 per cent less embedded carbon than wooden sleepers and 78 per cent less than their concrete counterparts.
Network Rail currently installs approximately 350,000 concrete sleepers each year. Replacing these with hedgehog sleepers could lead to an estimated annual carbon footprint reduction of around 24.5 million kilograms of carbon dioxide – equivalent to taking a staggering 12,250 family cars off the road annually.
Furthermore, with approximately 150,000 wooden sleepers replaced each year, adopting the new hedgehog sleepers in these instances could yield similar significant carbon equivalent savings.
Nick Matthews, head of Transformation and Continuous Improvement for Network Rail’s South Rail Systems Alliance, expressed his delight at the recognition:
“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, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the alignment of the project with their company ethos:
“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 celebrates organisations and individuals demonstrating tangible success in lowering carbon emissions within rail infrastructure and construction. This award underscores the significant potential of the ‘hedgehog’ sleeper to contribute to a more sustainable railway network in the UK.
