Keywords: subballast, subgrade, aggregate, recycled, slag, abrasion.

The use of aggregates with high abrasion resistance is key to guaranteeing a good track performance over time; however it is not always feasible to obtain these high-quality aggregates at a reasonable cost. Because of this, the creation of new alternatives with lower life cycle costs and lower environmental impact, such as SFS-Rail (steel furnace slag - rail), is fundamental for the economic and environmental sustainability of the railway infrastructure. SFS-Rail is made of recycled aggregates from electric arc furnace slag for use in subgrade and subballast layers with excellent physical and mechanical properties.

In this paper, a worldwide review of the state-of-the-art experiences and legislation in using ferrous slag in railway applications is presented. Next, an introduction to SFS-Rail and their main benefits in terms of track performance and environmental sustainability is made based on both laboratory tests and a life cycle assessment (LCA). Results from laboratory tests are compared with existing European norms regulating the use of aggregates in track bed layers to prove their suitability. Finally, the field tests in the Spanish infrastructure manager (ADIF) network as well as their extensive monitoring equipment to monitor SFS-Rail effect on track performance are described.

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