Over the next five years, ProRail, Deltares and TU Delft will conduct research into the behaviour of moving trains on Dutch railway embankments. To this end, they signed the agreement for the RESET Research Program in early October 2021.
Mobility will continue to grow in the coming years. This also has a major impact on railways. Tracks lie largely on railway embankments. These are so-called trackbodies, the raised foundations under the tracks. Eighty per cent of these track foundations were built before 1920 with the knowledge, requirements and skills of the time. Over the years, however, train traffic has grown enormously. In addition, trains are also heavier and faster. Consequently, the load on railway embankments is much higher. This can lead to high maintenance costs, operational restrictions and sometimes incidents. In some places, this makes it necessary to introduce speed restrictions due to the lower quality of the surface.
Insight into railway networks
Large-scale experiments will take place in the joint research programme. Using innovative calculation methods and data science, the research team wants to gain insight into how to make the railway network climate-proof. At the same time, it wants to contribute to safe railway growth. The research is a unique collaboration, with both fundamental and applied research. TU Delft contributes theoretical knowledge. Deltares is good at translating the models into practical applications. And ProRail looks at availability and reliability, for example. It is an integrated approach.
Climate-proof railways
In addition, climate change affects the stability of railway embankments. Think, for instance, of severe weather with extreme flooding and flooding. More knowledge is needed about the influence and effect of these factors. This will make it easier to determine where there are risks in the coming years. Appropriate measures will then enable the foreseen mobility growth and a climate-proof railway.
Applications
TU Delft has a lot of knowledge about the impact of rail axles and ballast on the track and its immediate subsurface. This makes it possible to analyse the entire system of track loading and subsoil. Deltares specialises in applied research on water and soil. It deploys its expertise in dyke safety and its experimental & digital facilities. Deltares will translate the results of TU Delft's scientific research and models into practical applications. More knowledge about the behaviour of water in railway embankments, the effect of dry periods and the way a moving train loads the railway embankment are examples that will receive attention in the research.
Collaboration
This innovative research involves a unique collaboration between TU Delft (geotechnical and rail engineering), the business community and knowledge institute Deltares. Eight PhD students will work from TU Delft. Deltares provides a lot of knowledge from previous research into the reliability and stability of Dutch water defences.
Leading role
There is currently very little fundamental system knowledge in this field within Europe. The research is therefore cutting edge and can also help other countries with similar problems.
Source: ProRail, Deltares, TU Delft
Image: Michael Gaida via Pixabay
