A rail fastening system (10) comprises a base plate (12) configured to sit on a support (14) and having a first recess 16 for receiving a length of a rail (18). The system (10) also includes a plurality of spring clips (20i) and (20t) arranged to clamp the base plate (12) between the rail (18) and the support (14); and in doing so fasten the rail (18) to the support (14). A resilient rail pad (21) may be placed in the recess (16) prior to the recess receiving the rail (18), so that the rail (18) sits on top of the rail pad (21). The plate (12) is not secured to the support before application of the clips. The clips are applied by pushing them over the base plate in direction perpendicular to the extent of the rail.

A spring anchor assembly for fastening track rail includes a spring anchor having a hook end, a tail end, and a middle section. An insulator is fitted upon the spring anchor and includes a plurality of rib walls extending fore and aft between a first outer insulator wall and a second outer insulator wall. The outer insulator walls form downward depending wall sections extending, respectively, from termination locations of the rib walls to the lower peripheral edges. A channel is formed between the wall sections and receives the middle section, contacted by the plurality of rib walls at the termination locations. The insulator insulates the spring anchor to limit leaking electrical currents from the track rail to ground.

A clip assembly for securing first and second tuned mass dampers to respective first and second sides of a rail. The clip assembly includes a bar element having a connector portion extending between first and second ends thereof and formed to be positioned in a predetermined location relative to the rail at least partially under a foot of the rail, and a first clamping arm connected with the connector portion at the first end of the connector portion, the first clamping arm being formed to engage the first tuned mass damper. The bar element also includes a linkage section located at the second end of the connector portion. The clip assembly includes a second clamping arm extending between upper and lower ends thereof, the lower end comprising a locking portion securable to the linkage section, and the upper end being formed for engagement with the second tuned mass damper.

A spring anchor assembly for fastening track rail includes a spring anchor having a hook end, a tail end, and a middle section. An insulator is fitted upon the spring anchor and includes a plurality of rib walls extending fore and aft between a first outer insulator wall and a second outer insulator wall. The outer insulator walls form downward depending wall sections extending, respectively, from termination locations of the rib walls to the lower peripheral edges. A channel is formed between the wall sections and receives the middle section, contacted by the plurality of rib walls at the termination locations. The insulator insulates the spring anchor to limit leaking electrical currents from the track rail to ground.

A tuned mass damper for damping airborne vibrations at one or more rail frequencies from a rail generated by movement of wheels over the rail. The tuned mass damper includes one or more damper elements including a damper element material, and a body element including a body material. The damper elements are at least partially embedded in the body element. The body element has inner and lower exterior surfaces formed to fit within first and second pockets on opposite first and second sides of the rail defined by a web portion and a foot. The damper element material and the body material are selected and formed so that the tuned mass damper vibrates in response to movement of the wheels over the rail at one or more damper frequencies that at least partially interferes with the rail frequencies.

An expansion joint construction may include at least one adjustment element movable in a longitudinal direction of the expansion joint construction. The at least one adjustment element may include at least one element for taking up a force applied in a longitudinal direction.

A clip assembly for securing first and second tuned mass dampers to respective first and second sides of a rail. The clip assembly includes a bar element having a connector portion extending between first and second ends thereof and formed to be positioned in a predetermined location relative to the rail at least partially under a foot of the rail, and a first clamping arm connected with the connector portion at the first end of the connector portion, the first clamping arm being formed to engage the first tuned mass damper. The bar element also includes a linkage section located at the second end of the connector portion. The clip assembly includes a second clamping arm extending between upper and lower ends thereof, the lower end comprising a locking portion securable to the linkage section, and the upper end being formed for engagement with the second tuned mass damper.

A tuned mass damper for damping airborne vibrations at one or more rail frequencies from a rail generated by movement of wheels over the rail. The tuned mass damper includes one or more damper elements including a damper element material, and a body element including a body material. The damper elements are at least partially embedded in the body element. The body element has inner and lower exterior surfaces formed to fit within first and second pockets on opposite first and second sides of the rail defined by a web portion and a foot. The damper element material and the body material are selected and formed so that the tuned mass damper vibrates in response to movement of the wheels over the rail at one or more damper frequencies that at least partially interferes with the rail frequencies.

An expansion joint construction may include at least one adjustment element movable in a longitudinal direction of the expansion joint construction. The at least one adjustment element may include at least one element for taking up a force applied in a longitudinal direction.