RAILWAYS
RAILWAYS
Slab track & track on
bridges
I Gi t k M S
Igor Gisterek M.Sc.
Slab track
The main difference between slab track and
ballast track lies in the method of transmitting
the loads from the rail to the ground: in track
with sleepers one can talk of point support, in
slab track the support is linear
l b k h i li
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Advantages and disadvantages
+ low maintenance cost
+ long life (ca. 30 years and more)
+ no geometry deformation under normal conditions
 high initial cost
 extremely difficult to repair the structure
 less effective noise and vibration reduction
Components
" Rail (mostly Vignoles type, in tramway tracks block
rail can be used, welded)
" Fastening (depending on system, full support or by
blocks spread apart)
" Reinforced concrete slab
" Reinforced concrete slab
" Subgrade
" Ground
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Rheda track
Rheda track prepared for concrete pouring,
already positioned and reinforced
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Feste Fahrbahn Max Bögl
Not much difference between FF MB and
Not much difference between FF MB and
Rheda except for the sleepers
Rheda except for the sleepers
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Sleepers already submerged in monolith
concrete layer. Dilatation between slabs can be
seen. In most cases no secondary damping.
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Embedded Rail System
ERS  detail
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Floating slab track
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Track on bridges
" Open track on wooden sleepers ( )
" Ballast track
" Slab track
Specific requirements considering geometry
Position of deck
Ballast trough is a continuation of ordinary ballast track on
bridges. It constitutes of steel or concrete broad U  shape, in
which ballast is contained. The cross section of the entire
trough must be large enough to allow repairs done with track
machinery.
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Ballast trough can also be built on older bridges, which
primarily weren t equipped with it. The main reason of trough
introduction is to avoid lack of ride smoothness caused by
different subgrade stiffness.
In many cases track on
bridges contains guiding
rails. They are
introduced to prevent
p
derailred rolling stock
from falling off the
bridge by keeping the
derailed wheels close to
the track axis and thus
keeping the car body in
upright position.
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Details of rail fastening in Tines Edilon system
Tines Edilon system can be also used in bridges with
steel deck. The difficulty lies in the proper shaping of
the steel plate under the rail.
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It s important to keep the subgrade or another
construction below the track in proper condition
because&
& track without enough support simply
won t hold the train weight
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