On the Influence of Freight Traffic Operational Conditions on Track Deterioration Cost

摘要

In order to increase the understanding of the running behaviour of freight wagons and the interaction between vehicles and track, a research project was started at KTH in 1996. The background to the initiation of the project were plans to increase axle load, loading gauge and speed of freight trains to make freight traffic on rail more competitive. In the present paper, the effect of different types of running gear and operational conditions on the track deterioration marginal cost in terms of settlement in the ballast, component fatigue and wear and RCF are investigated. Considerable differences in track deterioration cost per produced ton-km for the different types of running gear are observed. Axleload is an important parameter for settlement and component fatigue. Also the height of centre of gravity has significant influence on track deterioration, especially on track sections with high cant deficiency or cant excess.