1978 – 2014 Japan and the world
1978 | Okouchi prize and award of the Directorate General of Japan‘s Research and Development Agency for the development of FFU synthetic wood |
1979 | Deming prize for high level and comprehensive quality control |
1980 | Field trials of FFU railway sleepers at the bridge over the Miomonte river and in the Kanmon tunnel |
1985 | Examination of test sleepers by Japan‘s Railway Technical Research Institute (RTRI). Results are outstanding. FFU synthetic wood is adopted as the standard sleeper by Japanese National Railways (JNR). |
1996 | Japan‘s Railway Technical Research Institute (RTRI) retests sleepers from the field trials of 1980. An extrapolation over 100 million load cycles leads to a forecast lifespan of 50 years. |
2007 | Japanese industry standard JIS E 1203 is published |
2011 | RTRI tests sleepers from field trials of 1980. Results confirm a 50-year life expectancy. Written notification to JNR that sleepers can be used reliably for a further 20 years. |
2014 | ISO 12856-1 “Plastic railway sleepers“ in force |
2004 - 2016 Europe
2004 | Austria | First bridge projects in Europe using FFU synthetic wood |
2008 | Germany | First switch system using FFU synthetic wood in Leverkusen Munich Technical University concludes investigation for FFU 16 cm construction height. |
2009 | Germany | The German Federal Railway Authority (EBA) grants approval for operational trials of FFU synthetic sleepers. |
2010 | Germany | FFU switch systems installed on Hamburger Hochbahn and Munich transportation network (MVV) Austria | ÖBB | Double slip crossing at Vienna‘s main railway station |
2011 | Germany | DB AG | Bridge project in Vilsbiburg |
2012 | Germany | DB AG | Two switch systems at Würzburg railway station, each carrying 70,000 load tonnes/day Germany | DB AG | Ongoing installation of FFU synthetic wood on bridge projects Netherlands | ProRail | 3 bridge projects |
2013 | Austria | Wiener Linien | 78 switches in the vicinity of stations Germany | Munich Technical University tests 12 cm flat sleepers with positive results for 22.5 t axle load and v ≤ 200 km/h |
2014 | Germany | Federal Railway Authority approval for operational trials of the 12 cm flat sleeper Switzerland | BAV approval for operational trials from 12 cm upwards construction height, including for tunnel installations where wooden sleepers are installed Switzerland | BLS | A switch, a double slip crossing, first bridge project Switzerland | RhB | Bridge projects with flat sleepers in ballast and bridge sleepers on steel supporting structure United Kingdom | Network Rail | Two bridge projects with longitudinal baulks w/h/l = 38/38/7.50 m and standard sleepers |
2015 | Belgium | Infrabel | Counterpoise bridge is equipped with FFU France | Tisseo | 2 switches in ballastless track in Toulouse Switzerland | SOB | Hurdener bridge over lake Zürichsee Switzerland | SBB | Bridge in St. Gallen Netherlands | FFU certified for use by ProRail United Kingdom | Network Rail | Faversham bridge with fastening directly on longitudinal baulks |
2016 | United Kingdom | Network Rail | Rochester bridge with fastening directly on longitudinal baulks United Kingdom | London Underground | First switch and first bridge France | Keolis | Lille | Two switches in ballastless track |