PERMANENT WAY OF THE FUTURE

The properties of the ballast bed and the savings in maintenance obtained by using a concrete bed in its place are apparasied. For 300 km/h service, the use of U 80 rails of 60 kg/m mounted on concrete blocks with cross-ties and double-elastic fastenings is recommended. Such fastenings allow a greater degree of vertical movement of the rail and the sleepers would be laid on a ballast bed 35-cm deep. Japanese experience with continuous welded track and 53.5 kg/m rail mounted on pre-stressed monlithic concrete sleepers with double-elastic French-type fastenings is cited. Mention is made of the problem of ballast and the continual maintenance it incurs. Swiss studies on ballastless track for tunnels is reviewed.

• Corporate Authors:

  Temple Press Limited

  161-166 Fleet Street
  Longon EC4,   England 
• Publication Date: 1970-9-18

Media Info

• Features: Photos; References;
• Pagination: p. 710-711
• Serial:
  • RAILWAY GAZETTE
  • Volume: 126

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Ballast (Railroads); Ballastless track; Concrete; Concrete slab track; Concrete ties; Costs; Creep; Economics; High speed rail; Maintenance management; Railroad rails; Railroad ties; Railroad tracks; Railroad trains; Subgrade (Pavements); Technology; Tunnels; Welded rail
• Uncontrolled Terms: Ballast; Maintenance costs
• Geographic Terms: France; Japan; Switzerland
• Old TRIS Terms: Concrete paved track; Rail creep
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Economics; Finance; Railroads; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00037422
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 16 1976 12:00AM