Non-Destructive Continuous Dynamic Measurement of Lateral Track Resistance Offers Real-Time Results Directly After Track Maintenance

A very important rail track element is the ballast bed. High safety risks, such as train derailment and track buckling, can result if a ballast bed is not well stabilized or ballast is of poor quality. Netherlands Railways (NS) has invested, for more than 30 years, in ballast behavior, quality, and material research during and after track renewal and maintenance, as well as under operating conditions. The NS research institute, which became an AEA Technology Rail subsidiary in 2000, and has been known as DeltaRail BV since autumn 2006, conducted the research. The author addresses post-track maintenance non-destructive continuous dynamic lateral track resistance measurement. Discussion includes ballast bed functions; post-maintenance track displacement lateral resistance; track displacement lateral resistance measurement methods; and non-destructive continuous dynamic measurement methodology validation. The author concludes that providing evidence that track meets the minimum lateral resistance requirements and is a non-destructive method that offers, directly after track maintenance, real-time results, are advantages of the dynamic track stabilizer continuous dynamic measurement methodology.