Railway heavyweights continue to tip the scales

摘要

HEAVY-haul railways are regarded as one of the bastions of railway technology. The desire to carry higher quantities of commodities from mines to ports and industrial sites has compelled railway engineers to come up with innovative solutions that have continually pushed the limits of what is possible. Throughout its 60 years of publication, IRJ has charted the key developments, many of which have filtered into conventional railways. In track infrastructure, the growing use of continuous welded rail, direct fixation fastenings and high-grade steels for rails and wheels are among the key developments. We have also featured innovations in rail monitoring using track geometry cars, enhanced rail flaw detection and rail profile grinding, which have helped to improve track performance and reliability. Concrete sleepers have also played a crucial role in providing additional stability as trains have become heavier.