Advancing railway sustainability: strategic integration of circular economy principles in ballasted track systems

The railway sector plays a pivotal role in sustainable transportation, offering significant reductions in carbon dioxide emissions. Integrating Circular Economy (CE) strategies within railway infrastructures presents an opportunity to enhance these environmental benefits further. The paper presents a systematic literature review on the development of sustainability, net zero initiatives and circular economy principles in ballasted tracks, drawing upon relevant studies published from 2007 to 2024. The review aims to explore the application of CE principles to the critical components of ballasted tracks. We review various CE approaches—such as the 10R principles (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, etc.)—applied across different lifecycle stages of ballasted tracks, from manufacturing through to end-of-life (EOL) management. Comprehensive analysis reveals that while materials like steel in rails and fasteners show high recyclability, other components such as sleepers and ballast offer potential for repurposing and recycling, finally contributing to a more sustainable ballasted track. Despite the promising opportunities, the implementation of CE strategies in ballasted tracks faces challenges including technological barriers, financial constraints, and regulatory issues. These challenges were discussed, which can provide potential enablers and propose a framework. These developments can potentially guide the rail sector towards achieving greater sustainability and circularity. This study not only contributes to the theoretical framework of CE application in ballasted tracks but also provides practical insights via bespoke exemplifications that could inform policy-making and infrastructure development towards a greener, more sustainable future.