DELIVERABLE 2.8 - urban track

1. INTRODUCTION
D0208_STIB_M24.doc
TIP5-CT-2006-031312 Page 6 of 44
URBAN TRACK Issued: August 13, 2008
Quality checked and approved by project co-ordinator André Van Leuven
The networks of tramway operators in the European city centres comprises many short radius curves.
The high lateral forces of the vehicles cause the rails to wear quickly. The most widely used method to
combat this wear was developed some 30 years ago. The technique consists of cleaning the worn section
to bear steel so that a new layer can be welded in to restore the rail to its as new profile. With the older
mild steel rails this technique can be applied up to 10 times before rail replacement becomes necessary.
As the cost of rail replacement of embedded rail is several times higher than that of normal grade
separated track, it is important that the rails remain is service as long as possible. This deliverable
discusses the various techniques that are currently available as alternatives for the technique of build-up
welding.
The following solutions are considered to increase the life of rails in curves:
� gauge widening;
� wider grooved rails (Ph37a);
� lubrication;
� head hardened rail;
� build-up welding;
� grinding;
� exchange of rail.