Slab track goes synthetic

A way to reduce costs and difficulty of installing slab track is to replace steel bars with structural synthetic macro fibre reinforcement. This article details the benefits of macro-synthetic fibre (MSF) over concrete and steel, including reduced crack penetration, reduced current leakage, increased shear and tensile bending strength, and reduction of the reinforcement's carbon emissions. Testing was conducted using the horizontal pressure test method, which revealed significant resistance to horizontal loading. MSF was incorporated in Japan's Oita elevated railway, as well as London's Docklands Light Railway extension, with successful results.