New rubber railway track bed on show
02 May 2006
A revolutionary new recycled rubber rail track bed is to be shown in action in June..jpg)
The HoldFast Rubber Highway (HRH) will be revealed on a special preview day in Corby on June 1, with leading industry and government figures set to attend. The HRH has the potential to cut road congestion, make light rail routes feasible and affordable, and enable the re-opening of mothballed or axed railway lines. It is an easy to install track or road bed made from recycled rubber, thus allowing Britain’s waste tyre problem to be solved.
It has been invented and developed by Peter Coates Smith, who owns HoldFast Level Crossings Ltd. HRH has been designed to install quickly on existing or new track beds. The cost is estimated at less than £1.4 million per mile, a fraction of new road builds which average in excess of £20 million per mile.
The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) is funding the trials following an open call for demonstrations using UK post-consumer tyres in a range of applications.
Peter Coates Smith said; "With so many light rail projects under threat, community lines struggling and axed lines lying disused, there is real need for new and affordable options to realise much needed infrastructure opportunities."
The preview day will include a full presentation, a visit to the test track and live demonstration. Those who wish to apply for invitations should visit www.rubberhighways.com.