Progress Rail has entered into an agreement with Triton Group to supply composite railway ties, becoming the exclusive seller and marketer of Triton’s composite tie technology.
Under the agreement, Progress Rail will combine its engineering and global sales network with Triton’s materials and recycling capabilities.
Triton’s ties use a moisture-resistant polymer matrix reinforced with glass fibre to maintain strength and dimensional stability. According to the companies, the design supports gauge integrity in wet, warm and termite-prone regions and is compatible with existing track installation and maintenance equipment.
Each tie contains approximately 160 pounds (around 73 kg) of recycled plastic. The material provides an alternative to creosote-treated wood and is produced through Triton’s vertically integrated recycling process, which converts mixed plastic waste into engineered feedstocks for infrastructure-grade products.
Progress Rail, a wholly owned subsidiary of Caterpillar, stated that it evaluated multiple composite tie options, including field performance, stress behaviour and manufacturing readiness, before selecting Triton’s product. The companies plan to support railways through site assessments, pilot installations, engineering reviews and full-scale deployment based on local climate and load conditions.
