Track deterioration in high-speed railways

The degradation of railway track geometry on ballasted high-speed line is considered. The relationship between geometric track deterioration and traffic levels is outlined. Track testing on the Paris-Lyon high-speed line in France gave different results to predicted levels of track degradation. Data from dynamic inspection of track geometry on the Madrid-Seville high-speed line in Spain from 1992-2003 was analysed. A new formula of levelling track degradation was defined. Running speed, axle loads and traffic were shown to be major factors in the degradation of track superstructure, but it was also shown that the location of earthworks and structures and meteorological events also had to be considered.