LAYOUT AND CONSTRUCTION OF A

RAILWAY TRACK AND RAILWAY STATION

INTRODUCTION:
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods, by way of wheeled vehicles
running on rails. It is also commonly referred to as train transport. In contrast to road tansport,
where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by
the tracks on which they run. Track usually consists of steel rails installed
on sleepers/ties and ballast, on which the rolling stock, usually fitted with metal wheels, moves.
However, other variations are also possible, such as slab track where the rails are fastened to a
concrete foundation resting on a prepared subsurface.

Principle of Track Structure Longitudinal Section Principle of Track Structure Cross Section

LAYOUT OF A RAILWAY TRACK:

The track on a railway or railroad, also known as the permanent way, is the structure
consisting of the rails, fasteners, railroad ties (sleepers, British English) and ballast (or slab
track), plus the underlying subgrade. For clarity it is often referred to as railway
track or railroad track

Railway Track layout is three-dimensional geometry of tracks and associated measurements

used in design, construction and maintenance of railroad tracks. Although, the geometry of
the tracks is three-dimensional by nature, the standards are usually expressed in two
separate layouts for horizontal and vertical.
Track structures
Traditional track structure:

Ballastless track:

Ladder track:
Ballast Track:

LAYOUT
HORIZONTAL LAYOUT:
Horizontal layout is the track layout on the horizontal plane. This can be thought of as
the plan view which is a view of a 3-dimensional track from the position above the track.
In track geometry, the horizontal layout involves the layout of three main track
types: tangent track (straight line), curved track, and track transition curve (also
called transition spiral or spiral) which connects between a tangent and a curved track.
VERTICAL LAYOUT:
Vertical layout is the track layout on the vertical plane. This can be thought of as the
elevation view which is the side view of the track to show track elevation. In track
geometry, the vertical layout involves concepts such as cross level, cant and gradient.

TRACK GAUGE:
Track gauge or rail gauge is the distance between the inner sides (gauge sides) of the
heads of the two load bearing rails that make up a single railway line. Each country uses
different gauges for different types of trains. However, the 4 ft. 8½ in gauge is the basis
of 60% of the world's railways.

TRANSVERSE ELEVATION:
Transverse elevation is the elevation of land along the width of the railway track. It is
usually expressed in terms of cross level or warp. Cross level is the measurement of the
difference in elevation (height) between the top surfaces of the two rails at any point of
railroad track whereas warp is the difference in cross level of any two points within the
specific distance along the track. The specification that focuses on the rate of change in
cross levels of curved track is contained within the area related to cant gradient.

LONGITUDINAL ELEVATION:
Longitudinal elevation is usually expressed in terms of track gradient which is the relative
elevation of the two rails along the track. The allowable gradients may be based on
the ruling gradient which is the maximum gradient over which a tonnage train can be
hauled with one locomotive.
CONSTRUCTION OF A RAILWAY TRACK
Construction of a railway track is a tedious process and requires careful planning and
optimum execution to ensure safety of passengers as well as freight. Following is the step
by step process for construction of a railway track.

 PRELIMINARY WORKS:
During preliminary works the contractor conducts on-ground survey to ensure safety
of personnel, maintain integrity of existing underground services and assets and
determine if any assets need altering or relocating.

 SITE CLEARANCE AND MATERIAL RECOVERY:

Site clearance involves removal and disposal of trees, bushes, turf and topsoil,
recovered track materials as well as any kind of refuse or obstructions. During
clearance contractor should take care not to disturb any survey marks.

 EARTHWORK:
The earthwork should be capable of withstanding railway traffic loadings. This work
includes filling and cutting to the required heights and widths and constructing side
drains where existing drains are affected by new embankments and cuttings. Any
soft areas when identified will be removed and replaced with approved fill. Different
types of rollers are used for compacting the soil. Any excavated material not required
at the site should be disposed off at an appropriate site.
 DRAINAGE WORKS:
Next step is the construction of table drains, catch drains, drainage channels, sub-
soil drains and regarding of existing open drains. Excavation for drainage includes
excavation for culverts and open drains.

 BALLAST SUPPLY:
Ballast approved by the consultant will be supplied to the site to begin the process
for laying of the track. Second hand ballast material should not be used in any case.

 CONSTRUCTION OF TRACK:
After the approval of track formation, the contractor shall place grade and compact
one or more layers of bottom ballast. The track should confirm to alignment, levels
and cant shown in the drawings. Track gauge shall be measured between the two
running edges of the rail at a point 16mm below the running surface.
 RAIL WELDING:
Welding of rails is usually done by the aluminothermic or flash butt welding process.
The aluminothermic compound is a mixture of metal oxides, alloying elements and
special additives. These react to form metal creating an exothermic reaction to
produce superheated molten steel which forms the weld. Flash butt welding does not
use any filler metal. The pieces of metal to be welded are set apart at a
predetermined distance and current is applied to the metal so that the gap between
the two pieces creates resistance and produces the arc required to melt the metal,
hence forging them together.

ALUMINOTHERMIC WELDING FLASH BUTT WELDING

 RAIL FASTENING:
Rail fastening is done by the resilient or dogspike fastening system. Resilient system
uses rail clips and spring spikes whereas dog spikes are used by the dog spike
system.

RAIL CLIPS DOGSPIKES

 TRACK WORKS:
This step includes all the general works done on the rail track during its fixing such
as laying of sleepers, ballast, timbers, concrete bearers, aligning, boring, plating,
cutting, drilling and bolting. Sleepers should be handled and moved into position in
such a way as to avoid damaging and bruising. Sleepers shall not be subjected to
any blows by hammer or any other appliance.
 TAMPING:
All new sleepers inserted are tamped thoroughly with machine tamping heads.
Tamping is carried out to give firm support to sleepers over their full width. Final
 tamping cycle includes stabilization of ballast between sleepers and shoulders at the
end of sleepers. At the end of tamping all surplus ballast is removed from the site

 DESTRESSING:
Prior to destressing, the track must be regulated, broomed and cleaned to ensure
that fastening assembly is clear of ballast. All mainline tracks are destressed
according to a stress free rail temperature of 38°C. Heat applied to the rail helps in
the destressing process. The heat over a relatively short period of time destresses
the rail. Destressing helps eliminate track buckles.

DESTRESSING

 SAFETY PRIVISIONS:
To ensure safety of the general public, fences are erected along the railway lines in
most cases. In addition to this warning signs are displayed and gates or pedestrian
cross overs are established.

RAILWAY TRAFFIC SIGNS

 LAYOUT AND CONSTRUCTION OF A
RAILWAY STATION:
A railway station is a place where trains make scheduled stops. Stations usually have one or
more platforms constructed alongside a line of railway. However, railway stations come in many
different configurations – influenced by factors such as the geographical nature of the site, or
the need to serve more than one route, which may or may not be connected, and the level of
the tracks. Following features are present in the layout of a modern railway station:

 STATION BUILDING:
A station building is the main building of a passenger railway station. It is typically used
principally to provide services to passengers. Normally, a station building will be of
adequate size for the type of service that is to be performed. It may range from a simple
single-storey building to a large building with many indoor spaces providing many
services. A typical railway station building will have a side entrance hall off the road or
square where the station is located. Near the entrance will be a ticket counter, ticket
machines, or both. There will also be one or more waiting rooms, often divided by class,
and equipped with seats and luggage stands.

LHR RAILWAY STATION

 PLATFORMS:
A railway platform is a section of pathway, alongside rail tracks at a railway station, at
which passengers may board or alight from trains. Almost all rail stations have some
form of platform, with larger stations having multiple platforms. In high-speed rail passing
trains are a significant safety problem, as the safe distance from the platform edge
increases with the speed of the passing train. Platforms should be sloped upwards
slightly towards the platform edge to prevent wheeled objects such as trolleys, prams
and wheelchairs from rolling away and into the path of the train.

 ENTRANCES AND EXITS:

Station entrances and exits must be designed to allow for the movement of passengers
passing through them, both under normal and emergency conditions. Specific
emergency exit requirements are outlined in many countries as part of safety legislation
or to standards set down by the railways or other organizations.
 PLATFORM SCREENS AND DOORS:
There has been a trend recently in modern railway stations towards incorporating glazed
screens along platform edges. This is only possible where sliding powered doors are
available on trains and where the location of these doors is always consistent, which is
why screen doors do not appear on main line railways .On most lines equipped with
platform screen doors, the space between the sliding doors has emergency doors that
can be pushed open onto the platform, so if the train stops out of position, there is still
emergency access to the platform.

 PASSENGER INFORMATION BOARDS:

Passenger information boards inform the passengers about the destination and arrival
and departure of trains. Passenger information systems are essential for any railway.
Information displays mounted in public areas must be visible in all weather conditions
and be updated regularly with accurate information.
 LIFTS AND ESCALATORS:
Any station not easily accessible on the surface and which requires stairs, will
nowadays, require lifts for the disabled. Stations with a height difference between levels
of more than 4 to 5 metres will probably need escalators as well. Both lifts and
escalators are high cost maintenance items and need to be kept in good condition.

 PASSENGER WAITING AREA:

A modern railway station must have a spacious waiting area for the passengers before
and after boarding the train. The waiting area should have adequate seating and lighting
arrangement for the passengers to avoid any inconvenience or overcrowding. Waiting
areas in developed countries usually have books and magazines for the passengers.

 OTHER STATION FACILITIES:

Stations usually have staffed ticket sales offices, automated ticket machines, or both.
Many stations include a shop or convenience store. Larger stations usually have fast-
food or restaurant facilities. Railway stations also have: toilets, left-luggage, lost-and-
found, luggage carts, waiting rooms, taxi ranks and even car parks. Larger or manned
stations tend to have a greater range of facilities.