diff --git a/synapse/federation/__init__.py b/synapse/federation/__init__.py
index 2e32d245b..f5f0bdfca 100644
--- a/synapse/federation/__init__.py
+++ b/synapse/federation/__init__.py
@@ -15,11 +15,3 @@
 
 """ This package includes all the federation specific logic.
 """
-
-from .replication import ReplicationLayer
-
-
-def initialize_http_replication(hs):
-    transport = hs.get_federation_transport_client()
-
-    return ReplicationLayer(hs, transport)
diff --git a/synapse/federation/replication.py b/synapse/federation/replication.py
deleted file mode 100644
index b8b3a3f93..000000000
--- a/synapse/federation/replication.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,51 +0,0 @@
-# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
-# Copyright 2014-2016 OpenMarket Ltd
-#
-# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
-# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
-# You may obtain a copy of the License at
-#
-#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
-#
-# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
-# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
-# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
-# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
-# limitations under the License.
-
-"""This layer is responsible for replicating with remote home servers using
-a given transport.
-"""
-
-from .federation_client import FederationClient
-from .federation_server import FederationServer
-
-import logging
-
-
-logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
-
-
-class ReplicationLayer(FederationClient, FederationServer):
-    """This layer is responsible for replicating with remote home servers over
-    the given transport. I.e., does the sending and receiving of PDUs to
-    remote home servers.
-
-    The layer communicates with the rest of the server via a registered
-    ReplicationHandler.
-
-    In more detail, the layer:
-        * Receives incoming data and processes it into transactions and pdus.
-        * Fetches any PDUs it thinks it might have missed.
-        * Keeps the current state for contexts up to date by applying the
-          suitable conflict resolution.
-        * Sends outgoing pdus wrapped in transactions.
-        * Fills out the references to previous pdus/transactions appropriately
-          for outgoing data.
-    """
-
-    def __init__(self, hs, transport_layer):
-        super(ReplicationLayer, self).__init__(hs)
-
-    def __str__(self):
-        return "<ReplicationLayer(%s)>" % self.server_name