Railway Track Technology

Tao Lu Associate Prof. & Dr.

2021/10/27

E-mail： t.lyu@swjtu.edu.cn
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CONTENTS

The switch and crossing: their functions 1

The types of switch and crossing 2

The component of a single turnout 3

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The Switch and Crossing 1

 Switch and Crossing are of special importance for
railways, as they are the prerequisite for the
development of networks, i.e., for the branching and
joining of tracks. The productivity and line speed of a
railway is essentially influenced by the number and
type of its switches.

The structure of a switch

is far more complicated
and expensive than that
of the track grid.
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The Switch and Crossing 2

 Switch and Crossing are structural elements
requiring high investment and large-scale
maintenance, they can severely hinder vehicle traffic.
The purchase costs for one effective meter of a
switch- depending on the type of switch- are up to
four times higher than for one meter of track. The
proportion of switches in Central European railways
is about 20% of the fixed assets bound in permanent
way.
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The Switch and Crossing 3

 Switch and Crossing must be arranged and
designed in such a way as to achieve a favorable lay
out of the line- from the point of view of the dynamics
of vehicle movement. These design decisions are
very important, as high dynamic forces might occur
due to structural defects which then lead to defective
track position and early wear.
The same standard of maintenance has to be
achieved for switches and for track in order to prevent
switches from becoming sources of disturbance.
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The Switch and Crossing 4

 Significant progress in the design of traditional
switches has been made during the past decades.
Nevertheless, the stress on the structural elements of
switches is much higher than on track elements, as it is
not possible to avoid places of discontinuous stress.
Therefore, traditional switches can fulfill their task
only up to a certain speed and stress level.
New solutions have had to be found for the geometry
and structure of switches on which trains pass at high
speed and which are subject to high stress.
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Function of Switch and Crossing

 Switches enable vehicles to pass from one track
to another without interrupting their run.
 Crossing are the intersection of two tracks,
diamond crossings with slips make it possible for
vehicles to pass from one track to another without
interrupting their run at the point of intersection.

 The service life of a switch on wooden sleepers is

nowadays 20 years, on concrete sleepers about 30
years.
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BASIC PRINCIPALS
• Switches and Crossings require significant number of -
mechanical/electrical /electronic components functioning as a
SYSTEM
• Therefore , Standardization is key
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Components of a single switch

• Switch proper: two Stock rails, two switch rails, rail
fastening and switch machine (switch stand)
• frog: frog centre, wing rails, appropriate rail
fastenings. Movable frog, rigid frog.
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Components of a single switch

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switch blade and stock rail

Cross-sectional drawing
of T-rail switch blade
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Switch with integrated hydraulic setting and locking system

The locking system is integrated in a hydraulic setting

cylinder. The principle of an integrated locking and
switching machine enables the blades to move
sequentially so less power is needed at the same time.
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Type of a single switch

• Rail type：50、60、75kg/m
• Frog angle: N=cot a
• Sleeper type：wooden sleeper, concrete sleeper
• Frog type： movable frog, rigid frog
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Movable point frog

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Cast manganese frog-Austenitic Manganese Steel (AMS)

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Switch and crossing configuration

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Main types of switches and crossings

• The main types of switches, crossings and
diamond crossings with slips
–switches: split/single switches, symmetrical
switches, three way switches
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Main types of switches and crossings

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Main types of switches and crossings

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Main types of switches and crossings

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Main types of switches and crossings

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Main types of switches and crossings

• Double slip
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Main types of switches and crossings

• Cross-Overs:Examples
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Main types of switches and crossings

• Cross-Overs:Examples
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Main types of switches and crossings

• Examples
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Main types of switches and crossings

• Dual guage turnout
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Components of a single switch

• Switch proper, frog and check/guard
rails, intermediate rails
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Construction
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Homework：

A paper about Turnout or Switch

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