Rail Track for Light Rail Transit Systems

Abstract

The analysis of the well-known designs and technologies for manufacture of rail tracks for light rail transit (LRT) allows to assess trends in development of this type of transportation, as well as to reveal an underestimation of public rail transport referring to the existing «tendency to eliminate tram traffic» in several Russian cities, despite the problems of urban ground passenger transport associated with a limited resource of urban space.The prospects for development of urban ground passenger transport systems of LRT type were considered regarding adoption of new types of rolling stock, infrastructure development, reduction of costs and time of renewal of existing and construction of new tracks.The objective of this article is to present an option of a rail track design for LRT considering its structural and technological features, as well as comparative assessment of its technical and economic indicators. The research method is based on the analysis of the current state, prospects, and trends in development of LRT in Russia, which made it possible to propose a solution to the existing problem of urban passenger transport. Research was reflected in relevant patents, in pending applications for alleged inventions, as well as in experience of manufacturing full-scale samples.Comparative assessment referred to the known designs of sleeper and sleeperless, ballast and ballastless track used for light rail transit.A prefabricated, two-level structure of a ballastless rail track for light rail transit is suggested. The design consists of a pile foundation with superposed longitudinal sleeper track connected by transverse braces. The design and technological features, as well as advantages of the proposed design in terms of essential indicators are shown in comparison with the known rail track designs for light rail transit. It is shown that the proposed track design makes it possible to develop a self-sufficient, self-organising logistics system and to quickly proceed with permanent construction, processing passenger traffic and cargo flows. Since the concept of «from infrastructure to facility» is replaced by the concept of «from facility to infrastructure», it allows development of the facility to outpace development of transport infrastructure, as a costly system with a distant payback.