Posted on Trains News Wire: BART switches to plastic ties. 
You need a TRAINS subscription to open the story. Unfortunately, I don’t have one.
This ones a feebie: http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_9005144
I didn’t know that Bart modeled subways! Do you think the plastic ties are UV stable?
Its about time the railroads are catching up with the technology. The new ties sound similar to Xpotential timbers ( http://www.xpotentialproducts.com/main.htm ), a Canadian product made from all the non metal parts of salvaged cars. They run about 50% more than PT timbers but last 75+ years and heavy SOBs (150 lbs. plus). We have been using these for retaining walls for the past two years.
-Brian