Track that was removed from the Severn Tunnel during the recent renewal of the line will have a second life after moving to the Global Centre of Rail Excellence (GCRE) to be used as sidings.
Rather than sending the track from this year’s renewal to the scrapheap, Network Rail has been able to recycle all four miles – with half going to the GCRE rail innovation facility being developed in Wales and the other half being broken down to be used by Network Rail’s maintenance team.
This is the second consignment of track from the Severn Tunnel being sent to GCRE’s site near Onllwyn. The latest delivery arrived on site during the summer and follows on from the two miles of track delivered to GCRE last year, which is already being utilised at the site.
The Severn Tunnel was closed for 16 days in July while engineers renewed the entire track in the Wales-bound direction in a £10m project that was delivered on time and on budget.
In previous years, those panels of track that were replaced would be scrapped, but they will now get a new lease of life elsewhere on the railway.
Brian Paynter, Network Rail project director, said: “We’re delighted we’ve been able to recycle and find a new home for six miles of track from the Severn Tunnel over the past two summers.
“This is an innovative way for us to reduce our carbon footprint, improve sustainability and help the rail industry in the form of the Global Centre of Rail Excellence in South Wales.
“While this track can no longer be used for operation at high speed within the Severn Tunnel, it is perfect for use as sidings at GCRE, where it could potentially last forever with trains in effect sitting on the track rather than running on it.
“Our own maintenance team have also taken two miles of this track, and they will be recycling the sleepers by using them to replace life-expired or redundant sleepers on our less frequently used lines.
“There are many benefits to taking this approach – and it’s fantastic that this track from one of our most iconic pieces of railway infrastructure will continue to be used.”
Simon Jones, GCRE Ltd chief executive, said: “It’s great news that we have been able to extend our partnership with Network Rail to secure additional recycled materials from the Severn Tunnel upgrade for reuse at the Global Centre of Rail Excellence.
“At our site, the two miles of panels will be given new life as part of the construction of the depot sidings area of our facility.
“Critically, this collaboration shows what can be achieved as part of an imaginative approach to the circular economy and to reducing carbon emissions. We see this collaboration with Network Rail as just the start of our work together as we look to construct the GCRE facility from as much recycled material as possible.
“The Global Centre of Rail Excellence will help to rebuild local prosperity, make transport better, pioneer a net-zero railway and renew an amazing place – and it’s creative steps like these that help us show the positive impact GCRE can have.”
GCRE is a major new facility for rail and mobility research, testing and innovation, currently being developed in South Wales. GCRE will be the UK’s first net-zero in-operation facility.
