Development of Solid Bed Track on Asphalt Pavement

Abstract

Ballasted tracks generally need periodical maintenance work, because they are gradually destroyed by repeated trainloads. Enormous expenditure is spent, therefore, to maintain tracks under good conditions. As an alternative to ballasted tracks, concrete slab tracks are widely used in Japan. However, the noise levels on slab tracks are higher than on ballasted tracks. In order to solve this problem, the authors proposed a low noise solid bed track on asphalt pavement for new railway lines, and carried out performance tests. This paper describes the structure of solid bed track on asphalt pavement and results of performance tests.