Railway track structure - a holistic optimization of design and maintenance for improved performance

Important results from the project

The aims of the project have been to increase the understanding of long-term track geometry degradation, the development of a more accurate method for continuous track stiffness measurement, and to provide guidelines for the optimization of concrete sleeper design with or without under sleeper pads. All these aims have been met. The planned field study of the influence of different maintenance methods had to be cancelled because access to track was not approved.

Expected long term effects

A concluding technical report is available. Examples of results include: (1) 20 years of track geometry data have been analysed. (2) The influence of tamping on track geometry degradation rate has been investigated, and concrete sleeper design and optimum support conditions to reduce long-term sleeper and ballast degradation have been defined. (3) An enhanced method for continuous track stiffness measurement has been developed. This will help to improve maintenance planning and reduce life cycle cost and environmental footprint of railway tracks.

Approach and implementation

Each partner had different responsibilities in the project but most of the work was performed as a collaboration between partners. In total, 9 physical meetings and 9 telephone meetings have been held. The results from the project are presented in 1 concluding technical report, 8 reports (including 3 international conference papers and 2 journal papers) and 1 patent. Part of the work was performed in parallel with the three-year project IN2RAIL, which received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme.