Australia’s railways just got a clever sustainability upgrade—using scrap rubber to reinforce train tracks. In a two-year field trial on Sydney’s Chullora freight line, researchers from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) tested a recycled rubber underlay made from old truck tyres and mining conveyor belts. The results? Tracks with this rubber system showed significantly less wear and tear compared to conventional tracks.
The rubber layer cushions the impact of passing trains and spreads their weight more evenly across the track. This helps protect the crushed stone (ballast) underneath from breaking apart—a major reason tracks often need costly repairs. With less damage to the ballast, the tracks stay level longer, reducing the need for maintenance and shutdowns.
Beyond the economic benefits, the innovation also diverts end-of-life tyres and waste materials from landfills, offering a solid environmental win. Backed by AU$740,000 in new funding, the team is now scaling up trials in more extreme locations like bridges and junctions.
If successful, this low-cost, low-impact solution could change how rail networks around the world handle heavy freight—and waste.