Maintenance of Railway Line

Importance of Maintenance

The need for maintenance of railway lines arises out of the following considerations :

(a) The track rests on a yielding foundation and is subjected to heavy loads. As a result, the track settles over a period of time and it needs to be restored to design level constantly.

(b) As a result of dynamic wheel loads, the gauge and superelevation of the track gets distorted and these need to be restored on a continuous basis.

(c)  Rails and fastenings get worn out with passage of time and need to be replaced.

(d) The ballast gets crushed and needs to be restored and repacked under the sleepers.

(e) The points and crossings suffer heavy impact and need to be repaired.

(f)  The signal system needs to be kept in a perfectly normal condition all the time.