Uncontrolled copy from the catalogue dated August 2004

Railway Group Standard

GC/RT5023
Issue Two
Date October 1999

Categorisation of
Track

Synopsis
This Standard sets out the procedure
for categorising track in running lines
by usage and speed, so that
requirements relating to design,
maintenance, renewal and inspection
of the track may be specified and
applied.

Submitted by
This document is the property of
Railtrack PLC. It shall not be
reproduced in whole or in part without
the written permission of the Controller,
Martin Fargher Railway Group Standards,
Standards Project Manager Railtrack PLC.

Authorised by Published by
Safety & Standards Directorate,
Railtrack PLC,
Floor DP01, Railtrack House,
Euston Square
London NW1 2EE
Brian Alston
Acting Controller, Railway Group Standards © Copyright 1999 Railtrack PLC
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Railway Group Standard

GC/RT5023
Categorisation of Track Issue Two
Date October 1999
Page 1 of 9

Contents
Section Description Page

Part A
Issue Record 2
Responsibilities 2
Compliance 2
Health and Safety Responsibilities 2
Supply 2

Part B
1 Purpose 3
2 Scope 3
3 Definitions 3
4 Principles 3
5 Categorisation of Track 3
6 Tonnage to be used for Track Categorisation 4
7 Speed to be used for Track Categorisation 6
8 Determination of Track Categories 6

Appendices
A Track Categories 8

References 9

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Railway Group Standard

GC/RT5023
Issue Two
Date October 1999
Categorisation of Track
Page 2 of 9

Part A
Issue Record
This Standard will be updated when necessary by distribution of a complete
replacement.

Amended or additional parts of revised pages will be marked by a vertical black

line in the adjacent margin.

Issue Date Comments

1 September 1995 Original document, titled ‘Track Standards
Manual - Section 1: Basic Track Category
Matrix’
2 October 1999 Revised document with new title

Responsibilities
Railway Group Standards are mandatory on all members of the Railway Group *
and apply to all relevant activities that fall into the scope of each individual’s
Railway Safety Case. If any of those activities are performed by a contractor, the
contractor’s obligation in respect of Railway Group Standards is determined by
the terms of the contract between the respective parties. Where a contractor is
a duty holder of a Railway Safety Case then Railway Group Standards apply
directly to the activities described in the Safety Case.

* The Railway Group comprises Railtrack and the duty holders of the Railway
Safety Cases accepted by Railtrack.

Compliance
st
The provisions in this Standard are to be complied with from 1 October 2000.

Health and Safety

Responsibilities
In issuing this Standard, Railtrack PLC makes no warranties, express or implied,
that compliance with all or any Railway Group Standards is sufficient on its own
to ensure safe systems of work or operation. Each user is reminded of its own
responsibilities to ensure health and safety at work and its individual duties
under health and safety legislation.

Supply
Controlled and uncontrolled copies of this Standard may be obtained from the
Industry Safety Liaison Dept, Safety and Standards Directorate, Railtrack PLC,
Railtrack House, DP01, Euston Square, London, NW1 2EE.

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Railway Group Standard

GC/RT5023
Categorisation of Track Issue Two
Date October 1999
Page 3 of 9

Part B
1 Purpose
This Standard sets out the procedure for categorising track in running lines by
usage and speed, so that requirements relating to design, maintenance, renewal
and inspection of the track may be specified and applied.

2 Scope
This Standard applies to all running lines on Railtrack Controlled Infrastructure,
as defined in Appendix A to Railway Group Standard GA/RT6001.

This Standard applies to Railtrack and all Train Operators who operate rail
vehicles on Railtrack Controlled Infrastructure.

3 Definitions
Equivalent million gross tonnes per annum (EMGTPA)
A measure of the annual tonnage carried by a section of track, taking into
account variations in track damage caused by normal traffic. The calculation of
EMGTPA is broadly based on that specified in UIC leaflet 714 for ‘theoretical
traffic load’.

4 Principles
Requirements relating to design, maintenance, renewal and inspection of the
track vary according to usage and speed. Sections of track are categorised such
that the variations in the requirements may be correctly specified and applied to
secure system safety and safety of interworking.

The categories to be used are based on the speed and tonnage of traffic using a
running line. The tonnage is expressed as EMGTPA.

The boundaries of the categories are based on historical and experimental data.
The boundaries are plotted on a graph which has speed along one axis and
EMGTPA along the other axis.

This Standard enables other Railway Group Standards to specify requirements

relating to design, maintenance, renewal and inspection of the track on the basis
of a standardised categorisation system, in support of HMRI Safety Principle 5.

5 Categorisation of
Track
5.1 Requirement to categorise track
Railtrack shall categorise all track in running lines in accordance with the
requirements of sections 6, 7 and 8.

Track categories shall be reviewed at least annually and updated as necessary.

Track categories shall also be reviewed and updated when changes to speeds or
tonnages on a particular section of track are identified that could alter the track
category.

5.2 Sections of track to be categorised

Railtrack shall define the limits of appropriate sections of track in running lines
for the purpose of categorisation.

Sections of track shall be bounded by identified limits such as junctions,

terminals or points at which there is a significant change in traffic flow or
maximum speed. Sections of track less than one mile in length shall normally
not be separately categorised.

5.3 Data to permit track categorisation

Railtrack shall collect and collate the necessary vehicle details and information
on train services and train speeds to permit track categorisation to be
undertaken.
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Railway Group Standard

GC/RT5023
Issue Two
Date October 1999
Categorisation of Track
Page 4 of 9

Train Operators shall provide information requested by Railtrack to permit track

categorisation to be undertaken.

Vehicle details and information on train services and train speeds shall be
provided in a form suitable for input to the calculation of EMGTPA in accordance
with the requirements of section 6.

5.4 Records
Railtrack shall maintain records of current track categories for all sections of
track in running lines. These records shall be utilised in the process of
determining the need for maintenance and renewals.

Railtrack shall maintain auditable records of the information collected and the
associated calculations used to categorise track.

6 Tonnage to be used
for Track
Categorisation
6.1 Use of equivalent million gross tonnes per annum
Tonnage shall be expressed as EMGTPA.

6.2 Calculation of equivalent million gross tonnes per annum

The total EMGTPA of all trains using the track section being categorised shall be
calculated using the following algorithm. A fully seated loading condition shall be
assumed for passenger vehicles.

1. For each type of hauled passenger vehicle, multiply the tonnage per annum
by the appropriate load and wear coefficient (Kp) given in section 6.3 and
speed coefficient (S) given in section 6.6 to obtain the EMGTPA of that
vehicle type.

Trains formed of non-passenger carrying coaching stock (for example

parcels and mail trains) shall be considered as passenger trains.

2. Sum the EMGTPA of all hauled passenger vehicle types.

3. Determine the appropriate load and wear coefficient for hauled freight vehicles
(Kf) using the table given in section 6.4. Kf is a function of the total freight
traffic using the track section being categorised.

4. For each type of hauled freight vehicle, multiply the tonnage per annum by
the appropriate load and wear coefficient (Kf) determined in Step 3 (adjusted
as permitted in section 6.4 for vehicles fitted with bogies designed to give low
track forces) and the speed coefficient (S) given in section 6.6 to obtain the
EMGTPA of that vehicle type.

5. Sum the EMGTPA of all hauled freight vehicle types.

6. For each type of passenger or freight tractive unit, multiply the tonnage per
annum by the appropriate load and wear coefficient (Kt) given in section 6.5
and speed coefficient (S) given in section 6.6 to obtain the EMGTPA of that
tractive unit.

Any vehicle having a powered axle shall be considered as a tractive unit.

7. Sum the EMGTPA of all passenger and freight tractive units.

8. Add the EMGTPA of hauled passenger vehicles, the EMGTPA of hauled

freight vehicles and the EMGTPA of tractive units to give the total EMGTPA
of all trains using the track section being categorised.

The total EMGTPA shall be used when determining track category in accordance
with section 8.

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Railway Group Standard

GC/RT5023
Categorisation of Track Issue Two
Date October 1999
Page 5 of 9

6.3 Value of load and wear coefficients for hauled passenger vehicles, Kp
The following load and wear coefficients for hauled (unpowered) passenger
vehicles shall be assumed:

Kp = 0.80 for vehicles with axle loads not exceeding 11 tonnes.

Kp = 1.00 for vehicles with axle loads of 11 tonnes or greater.

6.4 Value of load and wear coefficients for hauled freight vehicles, Kf
The value of the load and wear coefficient for hauled freight vehicles to be
assumed shall be highest Kf given in the table below for the particular conditions
applicable to the track section being categorised.

Load and wear coefficients for hauled freight

Percentage of vehicles, Kf
freight tonnage Axle load Axle load Axle load
< 20 tonnes ≥ 20 and < 22.5 ≥ 22.5 and
tonnes ≤ 25.5 tonnes

≥ 75% 1.15 1.45 1.45

≥ 50% and < 75% 1.15 1.30 1.45

≥ 25% and < 50% 1.15 1.15 1.30

<25% 1.15 1.15 1.30

Note: Values of load and wear coefficients for freight vehicles with axle
loadings greater than 25.5 tonnes are not currently specified.

The value of the load and wear coefficient for hauled freight vehicles given in the
table above may be reduced by subtracting 0.10 for vehicles fitted with bogies
designed to give low track forces and which have been accepted as such by
Railtrack.

6.5 Value of load and wear coefficients for passenger and freight tractive
units, Kt
The appropriate value of load wear coefficient for passenger and freight tractive
units given in the table below shall be assumed.

Load and wear coefficients for passenger and

Power per vehicle freight tractive units, Kt

Axle load Axle load Axle load

< 11 tonnes ≥ 11 and < 20 ≥ 20 tonnes
tonnes

≥ 1.6 MW 1.40 1.60 1.80

≥ 1.1 and < 1.6 MW 1.20 1.40 1.60

≥ 0.5 and < 1.1 MW 1.00 1.20 1.40

< 0.5 MW 0.80 1.00 1.20

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Railway Group Standard

GC/RT5023
Issue Two
Date October 1999
Categorisation of Track
Page 6 of 9

6.6 Value of speed coefficient, S

The speed used when selecting the speed coefficient to be assumed shall be the
lesser of:

• the maximum attainable vehicle speed;

• the maximum timetabled speed of the train;

• the maximum permissible or enhanced permissible speed shown in the

sectional Appendix applicable to the track section being categorised.

The appropriate value of speed coefficient given in the table below shall be
assumed.

Speed Speed coefficient, S

Up to 40 mph 1.00
41 - 50 mph 1.10
51 - 60 mph 1.20
61 - 75 mph 1.35
76 - 100 mph 1.55
101- 125 mph 1.60
126 - 140 mph 1.80

7 Speed to be used for

Track Categorisation
The speed used when determining the track category in accordance with
section 8 shall be the maximum permissible or enhanced permissible speed
shown in the sectional Appendix applicable to the track section being
categorised.

8 Determination of
Track Categories
Sections of track shall be categorised in accordance with the graph given in
Appendix A.

Note: The track category boundaries are drawn on the basis of the following
table. The curved portions of the track category boundaries up to
25 EMGTPA are based on current and past experience. Above
25 EMGTPA the curves have been extrapolated to reflect the
anticipated rate of track deterioration and associated risks on very
heavily used lines.

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Railway Group Standard

GC/RT5023
Categorisation of Track Issue Two
Date October 1999
Page 7 of 9

Boundary between Straight Curved portion of the

portion of the track category boundary
track category
boundary
Speed (mph) = Speed (mph) =

Cat 6 Cat 5 21 N/A

Cat 5/6 Cat 4 61 -55 * log (EMGTPA) + 100
Cat 4 Cat 3 76 -55 * log (EMGTPA) + 150
Cat 3 Cat 2 91 -55 * log (EMGTPA) + 200
Cat 2 Cat 1 106 -55 * log (EMGTPA) + 250
Cat 1 Cat 1A 126 -55 * log (EMGTPA) + 300

Log (EMGTPA) is the natural logarithm (base e) of the equivalent million

gross tonnes per annum. There is a step of 50 mph between
categories through the curved portions of the track category
boundaries.

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Railway Group Standard

GC/RT5023
Issue Two
Date October 1999
Categorisation of Track
Page 8 of 9

Appendix A
Track Categories

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Railway Group Standard

GC/RT5023
Categorisation of Track Issue Two
Date October 1999
Page 9 of 9

References

GA/RT6001 Railway Group Standards Change Procedures

UIC Leaflet 714 Classification of lines for the purposes of track maintenance
HMRI Railway Safety Principles and Guidance

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