Markem wrote in
:

On Fri, 29 Jul 2016 08:40:46 -0500, "Dave in SoTex"
wrote:

I still haven't figured out why the U.S. rail industry has
never began converting to concrete ties as has most of Europe.

You haven't looked at a railroad recently. Most mainline
trackage is concrete ties now, and has been for probably 20
years. Lightly used tracks are still wood because it's
cheaper to install than concrete.

They have a cheaper alternative, plastic ties from recycled plastic
waste.

Recycled plastic ties have been tried. They've had problems
with fastners creeping and other issues. They're also more
expensive than wood. Mostly they're used in wet places where
wood ties don't last as long (especially places were replacing
ties is difficult, like in tunnels).

John