TRACK TECHNOLOGY
Weather warning on rail cutting discs
Bruno Beech of Diaquip explains how wet weather compounds the problem of unusable damp abrasive discs, and increases the risk of disc break-up.
inter invariably brings challenges for the rail industry. Rain and snow bring increased storage issues for abrasive discs used for cutting rail. The result of this is an increased number of unusable discs being scrapped and the danger of unsuitable blades being put into use. Network Rail maintenance depots are increasingly turning to a new solution that uses diamond.
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Diamond technology has been used innovatively along with a high tensile steel bodied rail cutting disc – this is the Railsafecut blade. A thick layer of diamond is vacuum brazed onto the steel body, enabling what has not been possible before.
As a result of this diamond technology, weather has no effect on the Railsafecut blade. There are no storage issues or usage restrictions regardless of adverse weather. Further to this, there is no risk of the blade breaking up, because the Railsafecut blade has a steel centre.
There are two downtime reductions. Blade changing is reduced as the Railsafecut blade represents a large blade life increase. Secondly, the blade does not reduce in size whilst cutting – so 100% of the usable blade life can be used. With an abrasive disc, 75% of usable blade life is thrown away. An advantage of this is that the cut can be completed from one side. Railsafecut blade has no disposal issues – it’s 100% recyclable and only one or two blades will be needed per job.
It looks like this winter will be the end of abrasive discs, as Network Rail and contractors move to the new solution. Because of the quantifiable reduction in wasted blades, disposal problems and downtime, the changeover is happening fast and it’s happening now.
What will your rail cutting disc decision be? The 350/25mmØ Railsafecut rail cutting blade is readily available on Network Rail’s i-store – PADS number 0111/107632.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
The blades can be ordered direct via
sales@railsafecut.co.uk or 0161 406 1504. Railsafecut have also developed a rail grinding product range. For information on the full range contact us via the details above.
Three-part Brighton Main Line works a major success
Kate Ashley reports on a series of successful track works.
his Christmas saw a major upgrade to the Brighton Main Line, with £80m of improvements at three sites along the route.
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An additional platform was constructed at Gatwick Airport station, with associated track and signalling work, to provide greater flexibility for train services calling at the station from February 2014. The work included 1,300m of new track laid, a 50m-long footbridge renewed, and a new lift, escalators and high- level walkway connecting the new platform to the station.
A major junction replacement took place between Redhill and Purley. The work at Stoats Nest required the replacement of 16 separate switches and crossings, removing the need for speed restrictions and increasing the reliability of the infrastructure.
New signalling was also delivered between London Victoria
and Battersea between Christmas and January 1. 68 | rail technology magazine Dec/Jan 14
The works were planned simultaneously at three different locations to keep disruption to a minimum. Tim Robinson, Network Rail’s route managing director for the Sussex route, said the upgrades would help to deliver “a safer, more efficient and reliable railway which meets the increasing demands placed on it by a growing number of passengers”.
He said: “After many months of meticulous planning, and the hard work and dedication of our staff during some fairly atrocious weather conditions, the railway was upgraded and reopened on time as planned.”
Adrian Witherow, head of terminals at London Gatwick, said: “The upgrades will make for a much improved passenger experience – for both arriving and departing travellers who will be using rail services.”
David Scorey, Southern’s operations director, said that the work “has much improved the infrastructure on key areas of the Brighton
Main Line, which we expect will help to deliver performance improvements in the future”.
Keith Jipps, First Capital Connect’s customer service director, said: “This work had a major impact on our services, adding up to 90 minutes to passengers’ journeys. I’m delighted it has been completed successfully and really pleased by how we’ve worked together as an industry to make sure we warned people in good time.”
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