@jacqueslees: RN-Type Spring Blade Fastening for Concrete Sleepers (French Type) France is one of the earliest countries in the world to adopt elastic rail fastenings. In the 1950s, the RN-type rail fastening was used as the principal rail fastening. Later, with the development of high-speed railways, the double spring blade fastening was adopted as the main rail fastening, namely the Nabla fastening system. RN fastenings and Nabla fastenings have been introduced and promoted in a number of countries in Africa and Southeast Asia. Japan is likewise a country that uses elastic fastenings as its rail fastenings.