Circular economy implementation in railway systems beyond net zero

Built environments with special attention to the railway sector faces significant challenges in successfully implementing circular economy towards the transition to net zero. These challenges stem from (i) the lack of pragmatic solutions and bottom-up technologies; (ii) non-inclusive, undiversified policies and fundings; (iii) inadequate cooperation among fragmented stakeholders; and (iv) poor inter-relationships among academic, industrial and public sectors. Circular economy transition towards net zero is the global challenge, and we must strike to resolve the climate issue altogether through both domestic and international cooperation. The paper thus highlights the essential need for harmonized actions together with tactical and pragmatic strategies to overcome technical challenges and barriers of circular economy implementation.