Mrs. V.

Sunitha

Alignment of Railway
Lines

Alignment of railway line means the

direction and position given to the

centre line of the railway track on the
ground in horizontal and vertical plane.

Basic requirements of an Ideal

Alignment
1. Purpose of new railway line
1. Transportation Services
2. Political and Strategic
3. Linking of Centres
4. To open up new track
2. Integrated development
3. Economic Consideration
1. Shortest route
2. Construction and maintenance cost minimum
3. Operational expenses minimum
4. Maximum Safety and Comfort
5. Aesthetic Considerations

Factors in Selection of Good

Alignment
1. Choice of Gauge
2. Obligatory or controlling points
1.
Important towns and cities
2. Major bridges or river crossing
3. Hill passes and saddles
4. Site for tunnels
3. Topography of the country
1. Plain alignment
2. Valley alignment
3. Cross country alignment
4. Mountain alignment
1.
2.
3.

Zia zag line method

Switch back method
Spriral or complete loop method

4. Geometric Standards
5. Geological formation
6. Effect of Flood and Climate
7. Position of Road and Road crossing
8. Proximity of labour and material
9. Location of railway stations and yards
10. Religious and historical monuments
11. Cost considerations
12. Traffic considerations
13. Economic considerations
14. Political Considerations

Types of surveys
1. Traffic survey
2. Reconnaissance survey
3. Preliminary survey
4. Final location survey

Traffic Survey
The most promising route for the railway in

the area
The possible traffic the railway line will carry
Standard of railway line to be followed

Data to be collected
Human resources
Agriculture and mineral resources
Pattern of trade and commerce
Industries located and projected
Prospects of tourist traffic
Existing transport facilities
Important Government and private offices
situated
8. Planning for economic development of the
area
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

The traffic survey report should

normally contain the following
information:
1. History of the proposal and terms of reference.
General description.
Potentials and prospects
Industrial and economic development and traffic projections.
Population projection and volume of passenger traffic.
Existing rates and rates to be charged.
Location of route or routes examined, alternate routes and
possible extensions.
8. Station sites and their importance.
9. Train services, section capacity and various alternatives to
increase capacity.
10. Coaching earnings.
11. Goods earnings.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Contd..
12. Working expenses and net receipts.
13. Engineering features.
14. Tele-communication facilities
15. Financial appraisal.
16. Conclusions and recommendations.

Field data in Reconnaissance

survey
1. General topography of the country
2. Approximate heights of different points on
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

alignment.
Position of rivers, streams and some hydrological
details of the same.
Position of roads and high-ways.
Nature of soil at different places.
Rough location of various station sites, etc.
Controlling points on the alignment, where the
railway line must pass.
Facilities for construction.

Preliminary survey
Field survey:
1. An open traverse along the centre line of the

proposed alignment with the help of a

theodelite, tacheometer or a compass.
2. Longitudinal and cross levels on the proposed
route for a width of 200 meters on either side
in order to make an accurate contour map.
3. Plane tabling of the entire area to get various
geographical details.
4. Special survey of station sites, level crossings,
bridges by plane tabling, etc.

Data to be collected in Preliminary

Survey
Geological information
Construction materials
Facilities for construction
Land
Bridges
Road crossings
High flood level and low water level of all
the rivers and streams coming in the
alignment.
8. Station sites
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Final location survey

1. Centre line is fully marked out by pegs at 20

meters. At each 100 meters, a large peg

should be used.
2. Masonry pillars should be built at tangent
points of curves and along the centre line at
interval of 500 meters.
3. Longitudinal and cross levels are taken so as to
ascertain the final gradient of the alignments.
All gradients are compensated for curves.
4. The sites for a station yards are fully
demarcated.

Objectives to be met in Final

location survey of a railway line:
Correct obligatory points
Easy grades and flat curves.
Minimum cost of construction.
Minimum adverse effect on environment.
Ease of construction.
Potential for high speeds.
Avoid constraints for future expansion
Minimum maintenance cost.