Division of Railway Tracks and Structures

DIVISION OF RAILWAY TRACKS AND STRUCTURES 
 

As a part of its activities, the Division of Railway Tracks and Structures focuses mainly on the provision and performance of measurements, diagnostics, inspections and other technical assistance in the field of railway tracks and structures.

All activities are carried out both for our internal customers within the Railways of the Slovak Republic and for external customers outside the Railways of the Slovak Republic.

Department of diagnostics of railway tracks and structures.

The department ensures and carries out the following activities:

1. Carrying out accredited and non-accredited tests and measurements for the Railways of the Slovak Republic (hereinafter referred to as ŽSR) and for an external customer

• measurement of the static modulus of deformation using  static load set
  ECM - STATIC,
• measurement of the dynamic modulus of deformation using the light dynamic plate LDD 100,
• measurement of the roughness of the rail using the measuring device  MDK 02,
• measurement of the damping rate of the track (dynamic damping) using the measuring device
  VIBROPORT 80,
• measurement of the transverse resistance of the track bed using the measuring device for measurement of transverse resistance,
• measurement of the neutral temperature of the continuous welded rail using the measuring device RailScan RSC 021,
• measurement of the transverse profiles of grooved and flat-bottom rails, cross-sections of crossings and their  flangeways using the measuring device CONTOUR II.

2. Solving science and research tasks assigned from the level of individual departments of the Directorate General or other sections of the ŽSR, written processing of results
3. Elaborating draft regulations of the ŽSR, incorporating comments or processing comments on draft regulations of the ŽSR
4. Elaborating drafts of railway technical standards (TNŹ), incorporating comments or processing comments on TNŽ drafts
5. Elaborating studies containing analytical processing of technical and economic documents for decision-making by superior sections of the ŽSR

Measuring devices Static load set ECM – STATIC

• Assessment of the condition and quality of the track substructure.
• Assessment of the quality of works carried out in the area of the track substructure.

        The output is the static deformation modulus E₀ as a parameter with a direct relationship to the quality of the track substructure.

Light dynamic plate LDD 100

• Assessment of the condition and quality of the track substructure.
• Assessment of the quality of works carried out in the area of the track substructure.
• The output is the dynamic deformation modulus E_dyn as a parameter with a direct relationship to the quality of the track substructure.

Measuring device MDK 02

• Assessment of the condition and quality of the rail surface, condition prediction and planning of repair works.
• Assessment of the quality of grinding works in the track.
• For assessing the quality of the rail surface in terms of noise assessment according to TSI requirements.
• The output is an evaluation of the microgeometry and roughness of the rail at different wavelengths

Measuring device for measuring transverse resistance

• Assessment of the condition and quality of the ballasted trackbed.
• As an input parameter for condition assessment and diagnostics of continuous welded rail and jointed track.
• The output is the value of the pull-off force and transverse resistance.

Measuring device RailScan RSC 021

The device non-destructively measures and evaluates the stress state of the continuous welded rail.

• Assessment of the condition and quality of the continuous welded rail.
• Assessment of the quality of installation and repair of the continuous welded rail.
• The output is an evaluation of the neutral temperature of the rails of the continuous welded rail.

Measuring device CONTOUR II

Contactless measurement and recording of the rail profile with the measuring device.

• Assessment of the condition and quality of the rail profile and switch and crossing layouts (switch tongue-stock rail, frog).
• Assessment of the quality of grinding works, milling and repair welding in the track (rail) and in switch and crossings layouts (switch tongue-stock rail, frog).
• The output of the measurement is the rail profile.

Measuring instrument VIBROPORT 80

The measuring instrument is used to measure the damping rate of the track.

It is used to determine the contribution of the rail to the total rolling noise. It is defined as a measure of attenuation of the rail vibration amplitude in the longitudinal direction at the bending wave of the rail in the vertical and transverse direction.

 F. Diagnostics of the railway superstructure

• Diagnostic activity using the track geometry measuring vehicle (GPK) on ŽSR and on foreign railways.
• Diagnostic activity using small measuring devices (e.g. KRAB, crossing profilometer, PRP Riftek profilometer, weld flatness ruler) on ŽSR and on foreign railways.
• Processing, distribution and archiving of records of individual measurements.

G. Verification of the quality of new material of the railway superstructure at suppliers/manufacturers

• Verification of the quality of new material in terms of technical and delivery conditions in the Slovak Republic and abroad.
• Quality control in production process at suppliers/manufacturers of materials subject to the material quality verification process.
• Cooperation within the complaint procedure of railway superstructure materials delivered to the ŽSR railway network.
• Processing, distribution and archiving of individual protocols on the verification of the quality of materials (products).

 H. Categorization of individual components and parts of the railway superstructure

• Implementation of categorization of individual components and parts of railway superstructure.
• Creation of conditions for categorization and regeneration of the railway superstructure material in terms of safety and usability of the material.
• Processing, distribution and archiving of individual categorization reports.

Measuring equipment

Track geometry measuring vehicle (GPK)

It is equipped with a two-axis measuring bogie with contact sensing of individual quantities of the track geometry (GPK) and electrical transmission to the evaluation unit of MS_GPK (measuring system of GPK). The latter ensures continuous collection, processing and outputs of the GPK measured quantities. During the GPK measurement, a real image of the track behind the MV GPK (diagnostic vehicle for measuring the track geometry) can be scanned and recorded on a VHS videotape.

It enables the measurement of the tracks on an open track, station tracks, sidings and switches with a gauge of 1 435 mm in loaded state.

Measured and evaluated parameters:

• track gauge and gauge change,
• direction of both rail strings,
• superelevation,
• longitudinal height of both rail strings,
• twist on the specified base,
• distance travelled and the speed in relation to position of the railway line.

Measurement outputs:

• continuous recoding of defects on the on-board computer monitor during the measurement,
• printed and graphical record of the measurement,
• qualification tables for section assessment of the track,
• database of measurement and evaluation data in electronic form.

KRAB trolley

It enables measurement of the tracks on an open track, station tracks, sidings and switches with a gauge of 1 435 mm and 1 520 mm without load.

Measured and evaluated parameters:

• track gauge and gauge change,
• direction of both rail strings,
• superelevation,
• longitudinal height of both rail strings,
• twist on the specified base,
• distance travelled and the speed in relation to the kilometric position of the railway line.

Measurement outputs:

• continuous recoding of defects on the on-board computer monitor during the measurement,
• printed and graphical record of the measurement,
• qualification tables for section assessment of the track,
• database of measurement and evaluation data in electronic form.

Electronic frog profilometer

The electronic frog profilometer is a measuring device designated for precise continuous measurement of cross-sections of frogs, tongues, stock rails and rails.

Elektronic profilometer PRP Riftek

The electronic profilometer PRP Riftek is a measuring device designed for precise continuous measurement of cross-sections of rails of various shapes. Detection and evaluation of rail wear condition.

• Vertical rail wear.
• Lateral rail wear.
• Aligned rail wear.

    Electronic surface unevenness measuring device

EML – T measuring device is an electronic device that measures the unevenness of rails and welds on both the rail head and the running edge. The length of the measured part of the rail is 1,000 mm (symmetrically from the weld point to both sides by 500 mm). The measurement shall be performed in a contact manner, during one longitudinal movement of the measuring slider, 1,000 measuring points shall be recorded with a measuring accuracy of 0,01 mm and a measuring sensitivity of 0,002 mm. The individual measured values determine the height deviation from two fixed points at the ends of the electronic ruler.