The Anonymous Widower

HS2 Slab Track Contract Awarded

The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Rail Business UK.

This is the opening paragraph.

Project promoter High Speed 2 Ltd has awarded a consortium of Porr UK and Aggregate Industries UK the contract to design and manufacture modular slab track for HS2.

The article also says that with the exception of tunnels and some specialist track, all track will be slab track.

What is slab track and why is it used?

These pictures show slab track on the Gospel Oak to Barking Line.

This is obviously not due to high speed, but because space is tight.

This page on the British Continuous Paving Association web site, is entitled Why Build Slab Track?

This is the two opening paragraphs.

Slab track, also called ballastless track, is a modern form of track construction which has been used successfully throughout the world for high speed lines, heavy rail, light rail and tram systems.

Slab track technology offers proven higher performance in service and a longer life than traditional ballasted track.

The article also lists these benefits.

• Very low maintenance requirements
• Shallow construction depth
• Reduced dead load
• Reduced structure gauge
• Higher speed operation
• Engineered noise and vibration performance
• Long design life
• Increased reliability
• Increased availability
• Low whole-life cost
• A sustainable solution

Increasingly, slab track is being used for high speed railways, so I am not surprised it will be used on much of High Speed Two.

October 29, 2020 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | High Speed Two, Slab Track