A section of railway line in south London has become the first in the UK to be renewed using a combination of sustainable materials, achieving a 63% reduction in carbon emissions.

The 1,150-yard stretch between Honor Oak Park and Forest Hill was completed using green steel rail, low-carbon concrete sleepers, recycled ballast and renewable biofuel, avoiding 581 tonnes of CO2 emissions – equivalent to the annual output of around 200 UK households.

The project, delivered by the Southern Renewals Enterprise and VolkerRail, marks the first time all three primary track components have achieved verified carbon reductions on a single renewal. Green steel produced using electric arc furnaces resulted in 60% lower carbon intensity, whilst concrete sleepers delivered an estimated 40% reduction in embodied carbon.

"This project shows what's possible when innovation and teamwork come together," said Dave Sutton, the project lead.

Materials typically account for up to 90% of the carbon footprint in track renewals. The successful trial demonstrates that sustainable alternatives can maintain operational performance whilst contributing to the UK's 2050 net zero target, with green steel and low-carbon sleepers now being rolled out across further projects.

Additional info can be found at Network Rail's website.