Replacing single sleepers with closely spaced double-H prestressed concrete frames provides better support for the rails, while their stiffness allows eddy current braking by eliminating lateral buckling. Traditional ballasted track has developed over many decades, displacing more sophisticated early designs owing to its simplicity and low cost. Research has tried to explain how it works, but to this day not all functions are clearly understood. However, the role of ballast in terms of resilience for load distribution and lateral resistance for buckling safety is quite evident.
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