Waiting for Rails P4133890

There are several types of concrete sleepers. The heaviest type are used when the greatest strength and resilience/life is needed on high axle load and high speed lines. There are concrete types made for direct replacement of timber ones. These are a lighter construction and not as effective as the usual concrete type. Steel sleepers are used on lower use or secondary lines. To my knowledge new timber sleepers are not generally not being installed in Australia. The yard at the museum I volunteer with has a mix of steel and timber second hand sleepers.

My guess is that all Netherlands lines are much busier than most Australian lines.