Title: New high output track renewals plant for Network Rail
Abstract: This article describes the new high-output ballast cleaning system from manufacturer Plasser & Theurer, acquired by the UK railway track maintenance company Network Rail. A high-output track relaying system and support plant have also been ordered. The ballast cleaning system comprises the ballast cleaner and a fleet of specialist ballast and spoil handling wagons, with two power wagons and four multi-purpose wagons which act as barriers for projecting conveyors. The ballast cleaning system moves to site as one very long train and is split up after work to discharge spoil and reload the ballast wagons. Ballast cleaning is a mechanised process to excavate and sort existing ballast; degraded material is removed and the rest replaced, the ballast profile being made up by new ballast. The objectives for high output renewals are to increase capability on main lines with limited track access, to increase efficiency and to improve the quality of the work. This requires effective forward planning.
Publication Year: 2005
Publication Date: 2005-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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