Low-carbon rails: developing a rail circular economy to cut our carbon emissions

By deploying low-carbon rails, SNCF Réseau and steelmaker Saarstahl are reducing C02e emissions by 200,000 tonnes—10% of SNCF Réseau’s total emissions.

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SNCF Réseau and steelmaker Saarstahl are committed to producing sustainable rails that emit 70% less CO2e than traditional rails.

They do this by:

  • producing new, eco-designed rails in electric furnaces
  • recycling old rails using the same electric process
  • reusing rails that have been removed from our network.

SNCF Réseau also has a Research & Development program to continuously improve rail eco-design, recycling and reuse.