Mitigating Train Derailments Due to Sharp Curve and Overspeed

Abstract

Each year around the world there are still several cases of train derailments on the curved tracks due to overspeed, leading to big casualties and costs to the rail industries. With the ongoing increase on the speed, the possibility of train derailment will increase, especially on the sharp curved tracks. Two guard rails (or check rails) are usually required to be placed inside and parallel to two running rails along restrictive clearance areas of the bridge, tunnel, and turnout, preventing the rail vehicle wheels from turning over the rails in case of derailment. However, the investigation on the guide rail which is used to mitigate the train derailment due to a curved track and overspeed is carried out in this paper through the simulations. On sharp curved tracks, one guard rail can be placed inside the low rail, where it engages the back of the wheel flange. The simulations demonstrate that the guard rail can reduce the train derailment potential caused by a sharp curve and overspeed. The lateral clearance between wheel rim back and guard rail, as well as the height over the low rail top, is crucial in the effectiveness of guard rail. Their optimal selections could be obtained through the further simulations.