It is used to bear the load from the railroad ties, to facilitate drainage of water, and also to keep

down vegetation that might interfere with the track structure.[1] This also serves to hold the track in
place as the trains roll by. It is typically made of crushed stone, although ballast has sometimes
consisted of other, less suitable materials, for example burnt clay.
The appropriate thickness of a layer of track ballast depends on the size and spacing of the ties, the
amount of traffic on the line, and various other factors.[1] Track ballast should never be laid down
less than 150 mm (6 inches) thick;[3] and high-speed railway lines may require ballast up
to 1⁄2 metre (20 inches) thick.[4] An insufficient depth of ballast causes overloading of the
underlying soil, and in unfavourable conditions overloading the soil causes the track to sink, usually
unevenly.[5] Ballast less than 300 mm (12 inches) thick can lead to vibrations that damage nearby
structures. However, increasing the depth beyond 300 mm (12 inches) adds no extra benefit in
reducing vibration.[6]
In turn, track ballast typically rests on a layer of small crushed stones: the sub-ballast. The sub-
ballast layer gives a solid support for the top ballast, and reduces the seepage of water from the
underlying ground.[1] Sometimes an elastic mat is placed on the layer of sub-ballast and beneath
the ballast, thereby significantly reducing vibration.[6]
It is essential for ballast to be piled as high as the ties, and for a substantial "shoulder" to be placed
at their ends;[3] the latter being especially important, since this ballast shoulder is the main restraint
of lateral movement of the track.[7] The ballast shoulder always should be at least 150 mm (6
inches) wide, and may be as wide as 450 mm (18 inches)
The shape of the ballast is also important. Stones must be irregularly cut, with sharp edges, so that
they properly interlock and grip the ties to fully secure them against movement; spherical stones
cannot do this. To let the stones fully settle and interlock, speed limits are often lowered on sections
of track for a period of time after new ballast has been laid.