Field assessment of different tamping operations for newly constructed or renovated railway tracks

ABSTRACT

The tamping process is crucial for correcting geometric irregularities on railway tracks, especially on newly constructed or renovated tracks that are more susceptible to accumulating defects. Recent studies have demonstrated that multiple insertions of tamping tines lead to greater ballast compaction and improved lateral resistance of the track. However, further evaluation is necessary to assess their impact on other important track parameters. This study evaluated single and multiple insertions to determine which would promote more effective maintenance for newly built or renovated track conditions, focusing on geometry correction, track structural behaviour, and potential ballast degradation. These tamping methods were tested in a heavy haul line, showing that multiple insertions improved geometric quality, increased lateral resistance, and enhanced vertical track stiffness without causing significant ballast degradation. Therefore, using multiple insertions is recommended for newly built or renovated tracks to enhance geometric quality and structural behaviour, providing a more effective maintenance solution.

KEYWORDS:

• Railway track
• tamping operation
• track geometry
• track modulus
• track lateral resistance
• ballast degradation

Acknowledgements

The results presented in this paper are part of an Under-Rail chair project by Vale S.A. The authors acknowledge Vale S.A. for their financial and technical support. Likewise, the authors also acknowledge CNPq for supporting co-author Alfredo Gay Neto under the grant number 304321/2021-4. This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior – Brasil (CAPES) – Finance Code 001.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico [304321/2021-4] and by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior [001].