RAIL Cooperative Research Centre (CRC), headquartered at Central Queensland University, has transformed modern rail-track design following cutting-edge research into ballast and track degradation, which has the potential to save millions of dollars and improve safety for the rail industry.

The research project was led by University of Wollongong’s (UoW) Professor of Civil Engineering Buddhima Indraratna, and managed by RailCorp Senior Geotechnical Advisor David Christie.

Mr Christie said that for rail-track operators, the innovative research meant significantly reduced maintenance costs, improved rail transportation safety, and less quarry waste-product - all related to the adoption of a new ballast grading, already in use by RailCorp.

“As a result of this research project, we now have new standards of ballast construction that have the potential to reduce settlement of the track, minimise breakage of the ballast and increase the lateral stability of the track,” Mr Christie said.

“This means less track maintenance, less chance of track buckling and train derailment, fewer traffic interruptions and less quarry waste. It all adds up to the potential of saving the rail industry many millions of dollars.

“The research techniques also promote the recycling of used aggregates, which reduces the need for fresh quarried rock and unwarranted environmental degradation.

“We welcome any improvement in track stability - especially under extreme temperature changes.

“The results are looking good and the findings can be implemented at a very small cost - the benefits are plusses in all directions.

“There are immediate efficiencies and cost savings for us as the track operator - and for the train operator, it means fewer interruptions to traffic – which also adds up to significant cost savings\".

RailCorp has submitted the revised ballast standards to the Australian Standards for National adoption.

Prof Indraratna and his UoW research team are currently verifying the research findings at a RailCorp test track site at Bulli on the NSW South Coast.

Prof Indraratna said the research verification would also validate the project’s innovative track design and maintenance software tool, which demonstrates how modern track designs can cater for faster and heavier trains into the future. “We have designed and built innovative large-scale testing equipment unique to Australia,” Prof Indraratna said.

“University of Wollongong doctoral research students are carrying out cutting-edge analyses of field-test results. Our research findings have now also been adopted in other countries including the UK\".

RailCorp and the UoW research team will continue to monitor the Bulli field trial over the next 6 to 12 months, with the hope that the new techniques will be adopted by wider Australia.

The ballast project is one of approximately 40 Rail CRC research projects established and supported under the Australian Government’s Cooperative Research Centres Program. Rail CRC consists of 6 university partners – Central Queensland University, the University of Wollongong, University of South Australia, Monash University, The University of Queensland, and Queensland University of Technology - and rail industry partners – Rail Corp, TMG Rail Technology, ARTC, Pacific National, and Queensland Rail.

For more information on this and other Rail CRC projects visit www.railcrc.com.au .

Photos: Installation of Geogrid and Geotextiles underneath the ballast layer of track at Bulli (NSW) field trial site .... and installation of LVDT and settlement plates at Bulli (NSW) field trial site.