INCREASING TUNNEL LOADING GAUGE WITHOUT LOWERING THE INVERT

With few exceptions, railway tunnels in the UK were built to 19th century loading gauges, before the advent of piggyback euro standard heavy goods vehicle trailers, super cube ISO maritime containers, or electrification. Justifying the capital cost for the reconstruction of tunnels to larger loading gauges is difficult, even where money from the EU is available. The alternative of lowering the invert is difficult, especially where tubular tunnels are involved. In any case only limited enlargement can be achieved. Some rail lines in the UK can carry 8ft 6in high ISO containers, and with low floor wagons, 9ft 6in high containers. Neither the next generation of 10ft 6in containers already in international use, nor 4m high, 2.5 m wide and 12m long road trailers piggyback can be accommodated, without tunnel loading gauge enlargement. This paper describes the development work of the LR55 track system, which can provide at least 300 mm more lead room in existing tunnels, within the existing invert. The LR55 track system is based on highway structural design philosophy and has been subjected to a battery of tests, including 80 tonne axles and 3m diameter tube tunnel loading. For the covering abstract see ITRD E123713.

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  • Corporate Authors:

    ENGINEERING TECHNICS PRESS

    46 CLUNY GARDENS
    EDINBURGH,   United Kingdom  EH10 6BN
  • Authors:
    • LESLEY, L
    • Al-Nageim, Hassan
    • MOHAMMAD, F
  • Publication Date: 2001

Language

  • English

Media Info

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00985532
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
  • ISBN: 0-947644-45-8
  • Files: ITRD
  • Created Date: Feb 4 2005 12:00AM