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Deutsche Bahn Pilots Rails Made From Low‑Carbon Steel

The small rollout serves as a demand signal for greener materials ahead of a federal steel summit on industry support.

Overview

  • DB InfraGO signed a supply deal with Saarstahl for about 1,000 tonnes of CO2‑reduced rails, enough for roughly 22 rail‑kilometres.
  • Initial installations will take place in North Rhine‑Westphalia, Rhineland‑Palatinate and Saarland.
  • The rails are produced at Saarstahl’s Ascoval plant in France using electric‑arc furnaces that recycle old rails and scrap, cutting emissions by up to 70% versus blast‑furnace steel.
  • The companies did not disclose the price or any premium over conventionally produced rails.
  • The pilot precedes a Kanzleramt steel summit and follows industry strains, including ArcelorMittal’s withdrawal of climate‑neutral conversion plans despite higher‑cost green steel options.