TRACKS &

PERMANENT
WAYS
MAINTENANCE
Why Track Maintenance is needed:
Due to the constant movement of heavy and high-speed trains,
the packing under the sleepers becomes loose and track
geometry gets disturbed. The gauge, alignment, and longitudinal
as well as cross levels of the track thus get affected adversely and
the safety of the track is jeopardized.
Due to the vibrations and impact of high-speed trains, the fittings
of the track come undone and there is heavy wear and tear of
the track and its components.
The track and its components get worn out as a result of the
weathering effect of rain, sun, and sand.
Advantages of Track Maintenance:
If the track is suitably maintained, the life of the track as well as
that of the rolling stock increases since there is lesser wear and
tear of their components.
Regular track maintenance helps in reducing operating costs and
fuel consumption.
Small maintenance jobs done at the appropriate time such as
tightening a bolt or key, hammering the dog spike, etc., helps in
avoiding loss of the concerned fitting and thus saving on the
associated expenditure.
Maintenance
Activities
 Track Patrol
- a visual inspection of the track either
by hi-rail vehicle at slow speed, or by
walking in
Squaring of Sleepers
- one of the rails is taken as the
sighting rail and the correct sleeper
spacing is marked on it
 Gauging
- the gauge should be checked and an
attempt should be made to provide a uniform
gauge within permissible tolerance limits
Rail Grinding
- Rail grinding is commonly done to restore
the original contour or make a new profile to
better suit the wheels.
 Track Lubrication
- Effective lubrication of the gauge face
helps to reduce wear.
Grouting
- grouting is a process of placing concrete
as a material into cavities to increase load
bearing capacity of a structure
 3 KINDS OF
TRACK MAINTENANCE
 Preventive
Maintenance
 Preventive Railway
Maintenance Works are
performed in order to reduce
the probability of the
occurrence of a failure on the
components of the railway
infrastructure and/or
maximize the operational
benefit.
 Annual
Maintenance
 This work often uses
heavy equipment that
may produce noise that
can be heard by
neighbors in the area. On-
track maintenance
machines must run at full
throttle in order to work
properly.
Emergency
Maintenance
 Corrective maintenance
task, CMT, is a set of
activities, which is
performed with the intention
of restoring the functionality
of the item or system, after
the loss of the functionality
or performance.
- END -
THANKS!