Degradation of Impact Attenuation of Fastening System in Mixed Traffic Trains in Thailand

Abstract

Rapid expansion of railway networks in Thailand implies the necessity of effective maintenance and planning for the high reliability and sustainable railway operation. This requires insight in the infrastructure behavior during operation. The most common type of the railway networks in Thailand is ballasted track having high stiffness rail fastening system, i.e., elastic clips with stiff rail pad. Even though the fastening system is more likely suitable for medium axle load freight train rather than passenger trains, the system can be adapted to mixed traffic for efficient train operation. In the present work, the influence of repeated load on the deterioration of rail pad properties, e.g., stiffness and its impact attenuation ability, was investigated by the dynamic stiffness test (EN 13146-9) and impact attenuation test (EN13146- 3). The findings could be served as the foundation for the appropriate maintenance measure based on the operational usage of mixed passenger and freight train for Thailand’s railway infrastructure.