Innovative requirements and evaluation methods for slab track design

Journal article, 2023

With increasing train speeds and reduced time windows for maintenance work, the interest in the application of slab track technology to increase the capacity of high-speed railways has grown. Slab track may still be considered a relatively young technology, but with several different designs available on the market. Current research on slab tracks commonly focuses on improved methods. In contrast, the formulation of requirements, and evaluation towards these, are seldom investigated. In this paper, state-of-the-art simulation models are employed to illustrate and address the needs for innovative requirements in terms of structural integrity and robustness, life cycle cost (LCC) and environmental footprint of new and existing slab track designs. Based on demonstration examples, it is argued that current standards may lead to overly conservative designs inducing higher LCC and environmental footprint than necessary. Extensions of the standards in terms of LCC and environmental footprint are suggested. The conflict of interest between structural integrity and robustness, LCC and environmental footprint is discussed, and suggestions for how to optimise slab track structures are proposed.