Worlds 1st Carbon Neutral Noise Barrier - Global Centre of Rail Excellence Wales

Background

The Global Centre of Rail Excellence (GCRE) is a major new rail innovation, testing and development facility being established in South Wales, UK. Its purpose is to support the rail industry in designing, testing, and showcasing cutting-edge technologies and infrastructure that help drive decarbonisation and modernisation of rail systems across the UK and Europe. GCRE aims to become a world-leading site for rail testing and certification, and to support innovations that contribute to the industry’s net-zero goals.

In 2024–25, GCRE provided a platform to host pioneering products and solutions, including a landmark acoustic noise barrier system developed through the collaboration between GRAMM Barrier Systems Ltd and HATKO Sound Barriers. This project delivered the world’s first carbon-neutral noise barrier installation at a live rail facility, demonstrating both environmental sustainability and high performance in noise mitigation.

Collaborative Delivery

Partnership Roles

• GRAMM Barrier Systems Ltd: As the UK installer and delivery partner, responsible for the design, supply, project management and installation of the acoustic barrier system. GRAMM is the exclusive UK partner for HATKO barrier technology.
• HATKO Sound Barriers: Supplied the innovative Hatko recycled rubber noise barrier system — a technology engineered to combine high acoustic performance with environmental sustainability.
• GCRE: Provided the live rail environment and demonstration platform at its facility for showcasing the barrier’s capabilities to industry stakeholders.

Design & Technology

The installed solution uses Hatko’s patented, high-density recycled rubber panels, designed to:

• Absorb and reduce rail noise effectively along trackside sections.
• Repurpose waste materials, notably recycled rubber from tyres, minimizing reliance on virgin manufacturing inputs.
• Achieve carbon neutrality across the system’s full life cycle, making it a globally pioneering product in its category for rail applications.

GRAMM led on the site survey, design adaptation, supply chain coordination, and installation logistics, ensuring rapid and safe deployment within GCRE’s operational environment. The demonstration installation serves both technical evaluation and commercial marketing objectives.

Collaboration Dynamics & Platform Use

GCRE’s role went beyond hosting — the centre emphasised innovation demonstration as a core mission. By integrating emerging technologies such as the Hatko barrier, GCRE provided access to:

• A realistic rail test environment for performance observation.
• Industry exposure to visiting stakeholders, consultants and potential clients.
• A validation platform for sustainability claims, aligning with broader UK and EU net-zero rail ambitions.

Outcome

The project achieved several notable outcomes:

Innovative Industry First

• Successfully delivered what is considered the world’s first carbon-neutral noise barrier installation for rail infrastructure — setting a benchmark for future projects globally.

Sustainability Impact

• The use of recycled rubber materials not only mitigates noise pollution but also supports wider environmental goals by reducing carbon emissions and diverting waste from landfill.

Demonstration & Market Validation

• GCRE’s showcase installation allowed GRAMM and HATKO to illustrate the barrier’s performance to rail operators, engineers, and industry visitors, adding credibility and real-world evidence to design and specification decisions.

Strategic Visibility

• The visibility of the project at GCRE enhanced awareness of sustainable acoustic technologies within rail and adjacent sectors, contributing to dialogues about net-zero infrastructure solutions.

Commercial Positioning

• GRAMM, through its partnership with HATKO, positioned itself as a leader in sustainable acoustic solutions for rail, ready to expand applications across rail networks, highways, and industrial segments.