Railway Engineering By: B. P. Devkota
Jun 23, 2015
Railway Engineering
By: B. P. Devkota
Objectives
• The overall objective of this course is to
introduce the knowledge about railway
engineering in planning, design, operation and
maintenance aspects.maintenance aspects.
�2
Learning Outcomes
– An understanding of importance of mass transportation
for the development of nation specially railway
transportation.
– Knowledge of railway and railway related infrastructure
about:about:
• Engineering survey
• Planning
• Design
• Construction, Operation and Maintenance
�3
CH-1
CH-2 ,3
and 4CH-5
and 6
Contents
1. Introduction (4 hr)
2. Basic elements and their functions (15 hr)
3. Geometric design of track (12 hr)
4. Track drainage (4 hr)
5. Railway construction, maintenance and operation (4 hr)5. Railway construction, maintenance and operation (4 hr)
6. Railway accidents and disaster management (4 hr)
7. Modernization of railways and high speed rails (2 hr)
�4
References
• Satish Chanda and M. M. Agrawal (2009), Railway
Engineering, Oxford University Press, New Delhi.
• B. L. Gupta and Amit Gupta (2003), Railway Engineering,
Standard Publishers Distributors, New Delhi.
• Rangwala (2013), Railway Engineering, Charotar Publishing • Rangwala (2013), Railway Engineering, Charotar Publishing
House, India.
• Clifford F. Bonnett (2005), Practical Railway Engieering (2’nd
Edition), Imperial Collage Press, London.
• Railway Curves, Indian Railway Institute of Civil Engineering,
Pune 411 001, 2010.
�5
CHAPTER-1, INTRODUCTION
By: B. P. Devkota
Contents
• Transportation System
• Historical development of railway
• Role of railways
• Classification of railway lines
• Alignment of railway lines
• Engineering Survey
�7
Transportation System: Definition
• Consisting of:
– Fixed facilities (roadway, bridges)
– Flow entities (vehicles, trains, planes)
– Operation plan (route allocation for flow entities)
– Storage facility (parking, taxiway)– Storage facility (parking, taxiway)
– Control system (signs, signal)
• That permit people and goods to overcome the friction of
geographical spaces
• In a most efficient, safe and convenient manner
• In order to achieve time and space utility for desired activity
�8
Transportation System: Importance
• To derive benefits out of the system with
respect to:
– Political and environmental aspects– Political and environmental aspects
– Cultural and social aspects
– Economic aspects
�9
Transportation System: Types
1) Public or Mass transport system
– Public busses, railway, BRT, LRT, monorail
2) Private Transport System
– Car, jeep, motorbike, van– Car, jeep, motorbike, van
3) Intermediate Transport System
– Taxi, auto
4) Combination and Coordination of System
�10
Transport Modes
Modes
Land Water Air OthersLand
Roadway
Water
Inland
Ocean
Air Others
�11
Inland Water
Transport
Railway
Railway
Historical Development: Global
• 16th Century:
– Mines in England used wooden roadways to
reduce the resistance of mining vehicles
– The rolling surface was provided with an uprising – The rolling surface was provided with an uprising
edge in order to keep the vehicles on the track.
�12
�13
�Reconstruction of flat
wooden track for
transporting silver ore;
guidance was by a vertical
pin running between the
timbers
Fig-3, Josephistollen (tiefer
Stollen) des
mittelalterlichen
Silberbergwerks Suggental
�14
Fig-2, Leitnagel Hund (Mining cart )
Contemporary illustration of guided truck used in 16th-century
mines in Germany
Early mine wagon (German: "Leitnagel Hund") running on wooden
rails. The vertical pin ran in the slot between the two narrowly
separated wooden rails
Fig: Mining Cart
�15
Historical Development: Global
• 18th Century:
– In England in 1760, The wooden rails were
covered with cast iron plates
�16
�17
Fig-4, A section of L-shaped plate rails
Ref: Wikipedia from a Welsh tramway in the Berlin Technical Museum,,
Historical Development: Global
• About 1800:
– Free bearing rails (Outtram) were applied, which
were supported at the ends by cast iron sockets
on wooden sleeperson wooden sleepers
– Flanged iron wheel took care of guiding
�18
�19
�20
Fig-5, A long fish bellied rail supported over several chairs
Ref: Wikipedia, in the Manchester Museum of Science and Industry
�21
Historical Development: Global
• 1804 AD:
– The first full-scale working railway steam
locomotive was built by Richard Trevithick in the
United Kingdom and, on 21 February 1804. United Kingdom and, on 21 February 1804.
�22
Historical Development: Global
�23
Historical Development: Global
�24
Historical Development: Global
• 1825 AD:
– The first railway for passengers was opened
between Stockton and Darlington.
�25
Historical Development: Global
�26
Historical Development: Global
�27
Stockton_&_Darlington_Railway_Union_Coach-
Advertisement
Infrastructure Development
�28First_Iron_Railwaay_Bridge_Stocktown-Darlington
Infrastructure Development
�29
Timber_Viaduct_on_the_Darlington_&_Newcaste
Railway 1844
Infrastructure Development
�30
Tees_Railway_Viaduct_1858
Infrastructure Development
�31North_Entrance_of_Shidon_Tunel-1915
Historical Development: India
�32
Historical Development: India
• Lord Dalhousie prepared the proposal for
railway lines between:
– Culcutta and Lahore
– Agra and Bombay– Agra and Bombay
– Bombay and Madras
�33
Historical Development: India
• The director of East India Company approved
his proposal
• The first railway line was opened for traffic on
16th April, 1853, between Mumbai and Thana.16th April, 1853, between Mumbai and Thana.
�34
Historical Development: India
�35
Historical Development: India
�36
Historical Development: Nepal
• 1927 AD:
– First railway was started at the period of
Chandrashamsher from Raxaul to Amlekhgunj, 48
kmkm
• 1936 AD:
– Bijalpura-Janakpur-Jayanagar, 53 km
– Janakpur-Jayanagar 29 km is in operation
�37
Historical Development: Nepal
�38
Historical Development: Nepal
�39
Historical Development: Nepal
• 2004 AD:
– "Transport Corporation of Nepal - Janakpur
Railway" was renamed to “Nepal Railways
Corporation Ltd."Corporation Ltd."
• 2011 AD:
– ‘Department of Railways’ was established on
2068/03/01 B.S (15-June, 2011)
�40
Historical Development: Nepal
�41
Railways in Nepal: Current Status
�42
Railways in Nepal: Current Status
�43
Railways in Nepal: Future Plan
�44
Railways in Nepal: Future Plan
�45
Railways in Nepal: Future Plan
�46
Railways in Nepal: Future Plan
• Government of Nepal has completed the
feasibility study on East-West and
Kathmandu-Pokhara electric railway havingKathmandu-Pokhara electric railway having
total length of 1317.5 km
– Mechi-Mahakali ≈945 km
– Tamasariya-Bharatpur-Abukhaireni ≈ 72 km
– Pokhara – Kathmandu ≈ 187 km
– Connections to Indian Border Towns ≈ 113.5 km�47
Railways in Nepal: Future Plan
�Connections to India:
�I – Kohalpur-Nepalganj
�II A- Butwal-Bhairahawa
�II B – Bhairahawa-Lumbini
�III- Simara-Birganj
�IV- Bardibas
�V – Itahari-Biratnagar
�48
�VI – Kakarbita
Railways in Nepal: Future Plan
• Kathmandu metro rail:
�49
Railways in Nepal: Future Plan
• Kathmandu metro rail:
– Five metro lines - would be feasible:
• four lines inside the Ring Road
• One line running around ring road• One line running around ring road
– A feasibility study concluded that the railway
system in the Capital would costs US$ 3.88 billion
(Rs 330 billion).
�50
Railways in Nepal: Future Plan
�51
Railways in Nepal: Challenges
� Lack of funding Capacity/Resources
� Delay in decision and release of fund
�52
Railways in Nepal: Challenges
�Lack of experts
�Dependence on others
�53
Railways in Nepal: Challenges
� Lack of expertise in tunnelling
�54
Railways in Nepal: Challenges
� Lack of priority for railway
�55
Railways in Nepal: Challenges
� Harsh topography not suitable for railway
�56
Railways in Nepal: Challenges
� Railway projects are not feasible for private funding
� Unlike roads, rolling stocks are to be managed by operator in railwayby operator in railway
�57
Railways in Nepal: Challenges
• Safety and control system
�58
Role of Railway
• At present age:
– Transportation are considered as an index of social,
economic and commercial development of a country
– The whole structure of industry depends upon the – The whole structure of industry depends upon the
well laid foundation of transportation
• For economic growth of country
– Adequate mode of transportation is indispensable
• Railway:
– cheapest and convenient mode
�59
Role of Railway
• Was regarded as rival of inland waterway
• Exists practically all over the world
• Cheapest mode of transportation
Require least traction to move it in • Require least traction to move it in
comparison to weight
• Direction of movement is controlled
�60
Role of Railway
• Political Aspects
• Social Aspects
• Economic Aspects
�61
Role of Railway
• Political Aspects
– Central and regional government are well
connected with the transportation, efficiency of
government increasesgovernment increases
– Opportunity of meeting people from different part
of the country, developing a sense of national
unity
�62
Role of Railway
• Social Aspects
– Faster, Convenient and safer mode than highways
– Remove the feeling of isolation in people’s mind
– Easier to visit at various places– Easier to visit at various places
�63
Role of Railway
• Economic Aspects
– Cheapest mode of transportation
– Large number of employment generation
– Increase mobility and industrial development– Increase mobility and industrial development
– Stabilized cost of transportation
– Finally, national wealth of country increases
�64
Classification of Railway Lines
• Broad Gauge (BG)
Track Classification
– Group-A
– Group-B
• Meter Gauge (MG)
Track Classification
– Q-Routes
– R-Routes– Group-B
– Group-C
– Group-D
– Group-E
– R-Routes
• R-1 Routes
• R-2 Routes
• R-3 Routes
– S-Routes
�65
Broad Gauge (BG) Track Classification
Group A B C D E
1. Speed up to (kmph) 160 130 Sub-
urban
100 <100
urban
2. Type of Rail Section (kg/m-
lenth of rail)
• Traffic >20 GMT
• Traffic 10-20 GMT
• Traffic <10 GMT
60
52
52
-
52
52SS
3. Sleeper Density
(No. of Sleeper per km length)
1660 1660 or
1540
1660
or
1540
1660 or
1540
1540 or
1310
�66
Broad Gauge (BG) Track Classification
Cont…
Group A B C D E
4. Ballast cushion
(Depth of ballast below
300 300 or
250
300 300 or
250
300 or
200(Depth of ballast below
Sleeper)
250 250 200
5. Rails used (kg/mm2)
(Ultimate Tensile Strength)90 UTS
6. Sleeper type Concrete or CST-9
�67
�CST-9= Central Standard Trial-9 Sleepers.
�It is the 9th series designed and produced by
central office.
Meter Gauge (MG) Track Classification
• Q-Routes
– With max speed >75 kmph or
– Traffic density >2.5 GMT
• R-Routes• R-Routes
– With max speed <= 75 kmph
– Traffic density >1.5 GMT
a. R-1 Routes >5 GMT per year
b. R-2 Routes 2.5-5 GMT per year
c. R-3 Routes 1.5 to 2.5 GMT per year
�68
Meter Gauge (MG) Track Classification
Cont…
• S-Routes
– These are all remaining MG track with max
permissible speed <75 kmph
and/or and/or
– traffic density <1.5 GMT/year
�69
Some IR- Track Specifications
• Permissible Degree of Curvature
– BG=100
– MG=160
– NG=400– NG=400
• Length of Rail
– BG=13 m
– MG=12 m
�70
Some IR- Track Specifications
• Turn-Out
– For goods train; 1 in
– For passenger train; 1 in 12 or 1 in 162
18
– For passenger train; 1 in 12 or 1 in 16
– For train with speed >300 kmph; 1 in 20 or 1 in 24
(not implemented, under consideration in India)
�71
Some IR- Track Specifications
• Permissible Degree of Curvature
– BG=100
– MG=160
– NG=400– NG=400
• Length of Rail
– BG=13 m
– MG=12 m
�72
Alignment of Railway Lines
• Making the position of centerline on the ground and giving the direction to the railway track is known as alignment of the railway track
• Components
– Horizontal components
• Straights, curves
– Vertical components
• Gradients
�73
Purpose of New Railway Lines
• Strategic considerations
• Linking of trade centers
• Connecting port/boarder with interior of the
countrycountry
• Shortening existing route
• Laying of branch line
• To develop un-developed areas
�74
Requirements of Good Alignment
1. Fulfill the purpose of opening new track
2. Feasible to construct and maintenance
– Easy to construct, operate and maintain
3. Economical3. Economical
– Cost: construction, operation and maintenance
4. Safe
– Safe: construction, operation and maintenance
5. Aesthetic beauty
– Beautiful natural surroundings
�75
Factors Controlling the Alignment
• Obligatory points
• Traffic
• Geometric Design Standards
• Topography of the Area• Topography of the Area
• Economy
• Other Considerations
– Foreign territory
– Religious and other conservation area
�76
Engineering Survey
1. Traffic Survey
2. Reconnaissance
3. Preliminary Survey
4. Location Survey4. Location Survey
• Drawings
• Project Report
�77
Traffic Survey
• General characteristics of location:
– Agriculture dominated
– Industrialized
– Forest dominated– Forest dominated
• Population, industries, towns, villages within a range of 10-20 km on either side
• Places of tourism and pilgrimage (religious journey)
• The rust periods on the occasion of festivals and fairs etc
�78
Traffic Survey
• Location of existing features and scope of their
development by opening new railway track
– Industries
– Quarries– Quarries
– Mines
– markets
• Estimate of traffic in terms of passengers and
wagons
• Traffic history and mode of transportation
�79
Reconnaissance
• Following information are collected
– Physical features of country
– Type of soil
– Topography of the area– Topography of the area
– Sources of water and their discharge
– Approximate elevation and depression of the area
– Labors, materials availability
– Climatic conditions
�80
Reconnaissance
• Factors to be considered:
– Area, not route/line only
– Existing roads should not
• Instruments to be used:
– Aneroid – Existing roads should not guide the alignment
– Starting of route not alone decide the selection
– Assumptions/specifications
– Survey route selection
– revenue calculation
– Aneroid Barometer
– Abney Level
– Prismatic Compass
– Strong Binocular
– Pedometer
�81
Preliminary Survey
• Instruments:
– Plane table and accessories
– Chain/tape
– Ranging rods– Ranging rods
– Tachometer survey
– Leveling instruments and staffs
– Prismatic compass
�82
Preliminary Survey: Field Work
• Field work:
– Open traverse with RoW=100-150 m
– Control points
– Detailing– Detailing
• Elevation along alignment
• Rivers, streams, canals crossings
• Existing culverts, bridges etc if any
• Land ownership for land acquisition
• Local resources availability
– Climatic conditions
�83
Preliminary Survey: Office Work
• Salient Features:
– General
– Length of track
• Drawings:
– Details of the field plan
– Profile
– Cross-sections
– Maximum and minimum – Length of track
– Ruling and excessive gradient
– Cost of sub grade and formation
– No and type of bridges, tunnels, culverts
– Maximum and minimum width of formation
�84
Location Survey
• From preliminary survey, a final route is decided
and is marked up on the prepared plan
• This is known as paper location….. In which the
following details are worked out:following details are worked out:
– Gradients
– Curves
– Contours
– Directions
– crossing of streams etc
�85
Location Survey
• Specifications for route layout
– 15 cm pegs at 30 m intervals
– 60 cm pegs at 300 m intervals
– Masonry pillar at each kilometer and at BM– Masonry pillar at each kilometer and at BM
• Instruments:
– Auto Level
– Theodolite or total station
– Tape
�86
Model Questions
1. Write a brief note on development on
railways in global as well as our context.
2. What is the role of railway for efficient
transportation system?transportation system?
3. Discuss the classification of railway lines.
4. What is alignment? Mention the factors that
control the selection of the railway
alignment?.
�87
Model Questions
5. Explain about the various stages of railway
survey.
6. What are the expected outcomes by
conducting reconnaissance survey?conducting reconnaissance survey?
7. How preliminary survey is different than final
location survey? Explain based on
instruments used, field work and expected
outcomes.
�88
Model Questions
8. Discuss the comparative analysis of
proposed East-West and Kathmandu-Pokhara
electric railway in Nepal.
9. Is metro rail suitable in Kathmandu? 9. Is metro rail suitable in Kathmandu?
Postulate logics to support your answer.
10.There is gap for railway construction in Nepal
from 1936 A.D. What are the possible
causes?
�89