It’s not often that a 200-year-old industry gets an overhaul, but that’s exactly what’s happening to America’s railways. For nearly two centuries, wooden ties have formed the backbone of our railroad infrastructure, supporting the transport system that has been crucial to our nation’s economic growth. In terms of revenue, for example, the North American railroad tie market is expected to reach a value of $1.4 billion by 2031.
However, as the world faces mounting environmental challenges and resource scarcity, forward-thinking companies are pioneering sustainable solutions that promise to reshape the future of rail transportation.
The Legacy of American Railroads
Since our nation’s first tracks were laid in the early 19th century, the rail network has expanded to cover over 140,000 miles (which could circle the Earth more than five times), becoming an indispensable part of our national infrastructure. During this time, railroads have played a pivotal role in shaping the North American economy, facilitating trade, and connecting communities across the vast expanse of our continent.
Despite its importance, the railroad industry has been slower to adopt new technologies compared to other transportation sectors. While this cautious approach has ensured safety and reliability, it has also led to challenges when it comes to addressing modern environmental and sustainability concerns.
The Wood Dilemma
At the heart of these challenges lies a material that has been a staple of railroad construction since its inception: wood. Traditionally, wooden ties have been the industry’s top choice due to their availability, ease of installation, and proven track record (pun intended). But this reliance on wood has become increasingly problematic.
Each year, North American railroads replace a mind-boggling 20 million wooden ties. That’s about 6 million trees, and this staggering figure raises serious sustainability concerns. And it gets worse: the quality of available timber has plummeted over the years. While ties made from old-growth trees could last for decades, many modern wood ties fail in less than ten years, particularly in areas called “high-rot regions” that have high moisture or insect activity.
The industry has tried to tackle these issues with chemical treatments, most notably creosote, a carcinogenic mixture of chemicals, which raises eyebrows due to environmental and health concerns. And even though 95% of new wooden ties are treated with creosote (or creosote-borate combinations), these treatments are proving to be less effective on new-growth wood. As old-growth forests become increasingly scarce from not just human-driven deforestation but wildfires and other climate change-related issues, the railroad industry faces a crisis: the potential obsolescence of its primary infrastructure material.
Derailing Progress: The Hidden Costs of Maintaining the Status Quo
The implications of this wood tie dilemma stretch beyond the railroad tracks. As a critical component of our national logistics network, any disruption to rail infrastructure could have far-reaching consequences. For example, the economic impact of a nationwide railroad shutdown is estimated to result in lost economic output of over $2 billion per day. Service interruptions of sections of track can have a costly domino effect, significantly impacting supply chains across various economic sectors.
Beyond the immediate effects of deforestation and toxicity to humans, animals, and the environment (thanks to creosote), frequent tie replacement cycles contribute to increased carbon emissions and waste generation. Not exactly the direction we want to be heading in the 21st century, right?
A 50-Year Solution to a 200-Year-Old Problem
The solution to these concerns? Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP). This is the Evertrak — a composite railroad tie company — recipe for change. Their composite railroad ties boast stronger and more durable tracks without cutting down trees or using toxic chemicals. On top of these claims, Evertrak uses recycled plastic, removing it from landfills and oceans.
These railroad ties represent a significant leap forward in railroad infrastructure technology. Unlike previous attempts at composite ties, which fell short in terms of strength and durability, Evertrak’s solution is engineered to match the strength of wood while offering a lifespan that’s up to five times longer.
The benefits of this technology are promising. With a projected lifespan of up to 50 years, even in high-rot regions, Evertrak’s ties dramatically reduce long-term maintenance costs and the frequency of replacements. And at a full production capacity of 1 million ties per year, the company estimates it can sequester 180 million pounds of plastic annually, diverting substantial amounts of waste from landfills and oceans. Another bonus: when Evertrak’s ties do eventually require replacement, they can be recycled into new composite ties.
Engineering the Future
The transition to composite ties represents a significant industry shift, and major players like Union Pacific — a leading Class I freight railroad company that generated roughly $23.87 billion dollars in operating revenue last year — have recognized this technology’s potential, incorporating Evertrak’s composite ties into their infrastructure.
As the industry grapples with the challenges of sustainability and resource scarcity, technologies like Evertrak’s composite ties are offering a promising path forward. By combining the strength and reliability that railroads demand with the sustainability that our future requires, these innovations are helping to ensure that America’s rail network remains a robust and environmentally responsible part of our national infrastructure for generations to come.
