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EspañolEuropean approvals
The development of FFU synthetic wood was completed in 1978 and it was installed for the first time in 1980 on the track of the Japanese Railways.
FFU was first used in Europe by the Vienna public transport system Wiener Linien on the Wienfluß Bridge project in Vienna’s district No. 1 in 2004.
The condition for installation by the Austrian Railways ÖBB were positive tests of FFU, carried out by Department 39 of the testing, control and certification office of the city of Vienna. Laboratory Reports MA39-VFA 2005-0180.-01 and .02 confirmed the suitability of FFU synthetic wood for use in railway construction.
Germany
The final approval of the Federal Railway Authority EBA for FFU synthetic sleeper technology with heights from 10 cm and speeds up to 230 km/h for the area track, switch and bridge was granted on 10 April 2017.
Switzerland
The approval of the Swiss Federal Transportation Office (BAV) for operational trials of FFU synthetic wood sleepers with a height of ≥ 12 cm for track, bridges, switches and tunnels where wooden sleepers were used was granted on 15 January 2014.
Netherlands
The approval of FFU synthetic wood sleepers with a height of ≥ 12 cm for track, bridges and switches was granted in 2015.
Field trials were carried out in 2012.
UK
The final bridge sleeper certification of FFU synthetic wood sleepers with a height of ≥ 12 cm was given by NetworkRail in December 2017
Serbia
The approval for operational trials of FFU synthetic wood sleepers for track, bridges, switches and tunnels where wooden sleepers were used was granted on 5 September 2008.
Field trials were carried out in 2009.
The final approval of FFU synthetic wood will be granted in 2016.