A contribution for integrated analysis of railway track performance at transition zones and other discontinuities

Abstract The authors present a novel approach to anticipating poor track performance, in terms of derailment risk, track degradation and passenger comfort, at critical locations of railway lines, such as transition zones and other discontinuities, including local irregularities. Track geometry data is integrated with information from a numerical study on the effect of track defects on the train-track system and with characteristics of the track superstructure and substructure. The application of the method to a new railway line suggested that track transition zones and other discontinuities, such as changes in the substructure, may trigger rapid track degradation. The proposed approach can provide crucial information for railway infrastructure managers.

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