Shear drain devices are used to prepare ground with a weak soil layer to receive a static load, for example a structural foundation or a soil embankment, in which the ground includes a weak soil layer that consists of fine grained soils over a base layer. Each shear drain devices each include an elongate perforated pipe member, a surrounding reinforcement member providing tensile reinforcement and aggregate fill. The ground is prepared by (i) inserting the pipe members and reinforcement members in an upright orientation within the fine grained soils such that fluid in the surrounding soil can readily pass into the pipe members and (ii) subsequently placing the aggregate fill in the pipe members to occupy the hollow interior thereof such that the resulting shear drain devices increase a shear strength of the weak soil layer.

A machine for profiling and distributing ballast of a track, having a frame supported on on-track undercarriages and lateral ballast pick-up devices which are adjustably fastened to the frame, wherein each ballast pick-up device is actuated by a conveyor drive. In this, the machine is designed in such a way that, in an inoperative position, the upper contours of the machine are arranged below a delimiting plane which slopes downward in the working direction and extends through a field of vision of a driver's cabin of a rail vehicle to be coupled to the machine at the rear end thereof. Thus, the machine can be employed as a leading wagon of the rail vehicle, wherein sufficient visibility from the driver's cabin to the track is ensured.

The invention relates to a method for treatment of a ballast track by means of track maintenance machine which comprises a lifting unit, having gripping rollers for gripping a track grid formed of rails and sleepers and lifting drives for lifting the track grid, and a measuring system for comparing to a target position of the track, wherein the lifting unit is set in vibration by means of a vibration exciter and the vibration is transmitted to the track grid, wherein the lifting unit is controlled by means of a control device in such a way that, during a lifting operation, the lifting unit is set in vibration, and the track grid is first lifted to above the target position and subsequently lowered to the target position. By means of the method according to the invention it is possible to carry out in a simple manner a lifting of the track grid with simultaneous stabilization of the track position.

A rail-lifting and ballast-spreading apparatus that may be employed to rehabilitate damaged tracks or aid rough in of new tracks, is described. The apparatus includes a track-lifting unit at a forward end thereof that includes an arm that is pivotable to extend forwardly and over a section of track in need of repair or ballast replenishment. Rail clamps are provided on a distal end of the arm that engage and travel along the rails as the apparatus moves forward. A conveyor provides a stream of ballast across the width of the tracks while the tracks are lifted and as the apparatus moves forward onto the now repaired tracks. A surge bin is provided to increase a rate of distribution of the ballast material by the conveyor over that available from the ballast-delivery consist.

The present invention relates to a method and a device for building a new ballastway for an at least single-track rail line (100, 101) when there is initially no existing track. The new ballastway should have at least one PS layer (2) and one ballast layer (3), and the PS layer (2) is built up on a subgrade (1) and the ballast layer (3) is built up on the PS layer (2) in a continuous working process in a working direction (A). The PS layer (2) is built up by a PS layer-producing unit (20) (PSL unit), and the ballast layer (3) is built up by a ballast bed-producing unit (30), which is operated at a predefined distance behind the PSL unit (20) in relation to the working direction (A) and is equipped with a chain track or caterpillar track (31) for driving on the PS layer (2). The PSL unit (20) and the ballast bed-producing unit (30) are each supplied with the materials (K, S) needed to build up the PS layer (2) and the ballast layer (3) by means of an associated conveying device (12a, 12b) from at least one open-top wagon (10a, 10b), which is operated at a predefined distance in front of the PSL unit (20) in relation to the working direction (A).

The present invention relates to a method and a device for building a new ballastway for an at least single-track rail line (100, 101) when there is initially no existing track. The new ballastway should have at least one PS layer (2) and one ballast layer (3), and the PS layer (2) is built up on a subgrade (1) and the ballast layer (3) is built up on the PS layer (2) in a continuous working process in a working direction (A). The PS layer (2) is built up by a PS layer-producing unit (20) (PSL unit), and the ballast layer (3) is built up by a ballast bed-producing unit (30), which is operated at a predefined distance behind the PSL unit (20) in relation to the working direction (A) and is equipped with a chain track or caterpillar track (31) for driving on the PS layer (2). The PSL unit (20) and the ballast bed-producing unit (30) are each supplied with the materials (K, S) needed to build up the PS layer (2) and the ballast layer (3) by means of an associated conveying device (12a, 12b) from at least one open-top wagon (10a, 10b), which is operated at a predefined distance in front of the PSL unit (20) in relation to the working direction (A).

The invention relates to a transfer car (100) for sleepers designed to outfit a railway vehicle of the type comprising equipment for laying down new sleepers (21) and/or removing worn sleepers (22), the transfer car (100) comprising an undercarriage (110) supported by at least one running gear (112), the transfer car (100) being characterized in that it comprises at least one traverser (50) supported by an armature (60), the armature (60) being supported by the undercarriage (110) and fixed in relation to the undercarriage (110), the traverser (50) being configured to move the sleepers from at least one receiving zone (Z1, Z2) to at least one conveying platform (P2).

There is disclosed a railway geogrid construction suitable for use with high speed trains to mitigate the increased impact of Rayleigh waves generated at high speed and/or over soft subgrades, the construction comprising: a track bed (e.g. having rails for a train) which defines a track located on a track plane; a mass of particulate material (e.g. aggregate) forming a layer located beneath the track plane; and a geogrid located in and/or below the particulate mass in a plane (geogrid plane) substantially parallel to the track plane where the average distance between the track plane and geogrid plane, measured perpendicular to both is greater than 0.65 metres.

A dumping system for accurate and precise dumping of ballast rock, sand, and gravel (aggregate) to all areas of a railroad track (a track) is described. The dumping system includes a dump box, a dump gate having at least two delivery gates, an operating system, and a control system. The at least two delivery gates of the dump gate each include a top portion and a bottom portion. The bottom portion of each of the at least two delivery gates is adjusted in real time by the operating system via the control system to accurately and precisely deliver the aggregate to all areas of the track. The dump box may further be rotated horizontally and vertically to aid with the delivery of aggregate to the track in an accurate manner.

A dumping system for accurate and precise dumping of ballast rock, sand, and gravel (aggregate) to all areas of a railroad track (a track) is described. The dumping system includes a dump box, a dump gate having at least two delivery gates, an operating system, and a control system. The at least two delivery gates of the dump gate each include a top portion and a bottom portion. The bottom portion of each of the at least two delivery gates is adjusted in real time by the operating system via the control system to accurately and precisely deliver the aggregate to all areas of the track. The dump box may further be rotated horizontally and vertically to aid with the delivery of aggregate to the track in an accurate manner.