An example track system includes: a supporting structure; ballast supported by the supporting structure; a plurality of track ties supported by the ballast; a pair of rails supported by the plurality of track ties; and a layer of rubberized asphalt coating disposed as an interface between the ballast and the supporting structure, the rubberized asphalt coating having bituminous binder, crumb rubber particles, and small gradation hard rock aggregate; wherein resiliency of the layer of rubberized asphalt coating permits particles of the ballast in direct contact with the layer of rubberized asphalt coating to move elastically relative to each other while inhibiting abrasion of adjacent ones of the particles of the ballast against each other and against the supporting structure.

A ground stabilisation system is used for stabilising a subgrade region which includes a peat layer under a railway having rails supported across rail ties on a ballast layer over the subgrade region. The system uses a plurality of drain members submerged in an upright orientation within the peat layer of the subgrade region in which each drain member has a hollow interior and a plurality of openings therein which allow communication of fluid from the peat layer surrounding the drain member into the hollow interior of the drain member so as to be arranged to reduce fluid pressure in the peat layer when the peat layer undergoes dynamic loading from a passing train. Each drain member is a semi-rigid pipe having an axial stiffness greater than a dynamic stiffness of the peat layer to reduce loading on the peat layer under dynamic loading from a passing train.

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.

Disclosed is a drainage system (1) comprising: at least one water receiving unit (20) having: a water receptacle (22) for receiving water from an adjoining surface of an upper stratum; and at least one drainage unit comprising: a body; wherein: the water receptacle (22) can be integrated into the upper stratum; the drainage unit can be provided and oriented, at least in part, in a central stratum at a distance under the surface, with respect to its uppermost face, such that water flowing out of the water receiving unit (20) can flow into the drainage unit through a connection between the water receptacle (22) and the body; and the connection can be maintained irrespective of a change in this distance. Also disclosed are drainage units and methods.

A drainage system (1) comprising: at least one water receiving unit (20) having: a water receptacle (22) for receiving water from an adjoining surface; a first neck piece (24) which can be connected to the water receptacle (22) and provided such that water can flow out of the water receiving unit (20) through an opening (26) of the first neck piece (24); and at least one water drainage unit (40) for draining the water, comprising: a pipe body (42); and a first opening (46b), provided on the pipe body (42), for receiving the water in said pipe body (42); wherein: the water drainage unit (40) can be provided and oriented under the surface such j that the opening (26) of the first neck piece (24) and the first opening (46b) of the pipe body (42) can be connected and the water flowing out of the water receiving unit (20) can flow into the water drainage unit (40). Also disclosed are drainage units and methods.

A track bed for a railroad track, includes track ballast made from particulate matter and a multitude of railroad ties supported on the track ballast, wherein at least one region of the track ballast is stabilized by a bonding agent that bonds together particles of the particulate matter, wherein the bonding agent is based on a hydraulic binder, in particular cement, and the bonding agent leaves free voids between the bonded particles so that the track ballast has a water draining capability in the at least one stabilized region.

A protective coating system for a railway structure having a waterproof membrane and a ballast mat. The waterproof membrane is disposed on the railway structure. The ballast mat further has a ballast protection coating and a sealing layer. The ballast protection coating is a rubber compound and is disposed on the waterproof membrane. The sealing layer is disposed on the ballast protection layer.

Disclosed is a drainage system (1) comprising: at least one water receiving unit (20) having: a water receptacle (22) for receiving water from an adjoining surface of an upper stratum; and at least one drainage unit comprising: a body; wherein: the water receptacle (22) can be integrated into the upper stratum; the drainage unit can be provided and oriented, at least in part, in a central stratum at a distance under the surface, with respect to its uppermost face, such that water flowing out of the water receiving unit (20) can flow into the drainage unit through a connection between the water receptacle (22) and the body; and the connection can be maintained irrespective of a change in this distance. Also disclosed are drainage units and methods.

A protective coating system for a railway structure having a waterproof membrane and a ballast mat. The waterproof membrane is disposed on the railway structure. The ballast mat further has a ballast protection coating and a sealing layer. The ballast protection coating is a rubber compound and is disposed on the waterproof membrane. The sealing layer is disposed on the ballast protection layer.

A ground stabilisation system is used for stabilising a subgrade region which includes a peat layer under a railway having rails supported across rail ties on a ballast layer over the subgrade region. The system uses a plurality of drain members submerged in an upright orientation within the peat layer of the subgrade region in which each drain member has a hollow interior and a plurality of openings therein which allow communication of fluid from the peat layer surrounding the drain member into the hollow interior of the drain member so as to be arranged to reduce fluid pressure in the peat layer when the peat layer undergoes dynamic loading from a passing train. Each drain member is a semi-rigid pipe having an axial stiffness greater than a dynamic stiffness of the peat layer to reduce loading on the peat layer under dynamic loading from a passing train.