On the Planning and Construction of Railway Curved Track

Abstract

Increasing demand for railway vehicle speed has pushed the railway track designers to develop high-quality track. An important measure of track quality is the character of the transition curve track connecting different intersecting straight tracks. A good transition curve track must be able to negotiate the intermittent stresses and dynamic effects caused by changes in lateral acceleration at high speed. This paper presents the constructional methods for planning transition curves considering the dynamics of movement. These methods consider the non-compensated lateral acceleration, deviation in lateral acceleration and its higher time derivatives. This paper discusses the laying methods of circular, vertical and transition curves. Key aspects in laying a curved track e.g. widening of gauge on curves are discussed in this paper. This paper also suggests a transition curve which is effective not only from a dynamic point of view considering lateral acceleration and its higher time derivative but also consider the geometric conditions along with the required deflection angle.