The use of concrete sleepers in railways started in the 1940s. They are currently used in many countries thoughout the world at a rate of over 12 million per year. This report discusses the various types of sleeper which have been developed - monoblock, two-block, reinforced and prestressed concrete. Separate sections deal with design, rail fastening systems, manufacture, quality control and testing, installation and performance, and research and development.

In 1986, the FIP Commission on Prefabrication issued the state-of-art report "Concrete Railway Sleepers", which included design considerations, manufacturing methods, rail fastening systems and field performance. During the two decades since that report, precast concrete has gained importance in the field of railway track systems for plain track, switches and crossings, tunnels and other applications. Developments in production methods for concrete sleepers in switch and crossing layouts to cope with the complex geometry and the industry's confidence in their performance have contributed to the huge increase in the use of this type of sleeper. The use of slab track for high-speed track has also grown, particularly where either new track is built or where existing track is renewed and long periods of track possession are possible. There has also been progress in the development of plant and equipment for the installation, renewal and maintenance of concrete sleepered track. With machines now able to replace existing track at a rate of 5000 sleepers (over 3 km track) per day, choosing concrete sleepers can reduce the time on site, meaning tracks can be reopened quickly whilst reducing labour requirements and costs. Today, precast concrete is considered to be the best performing and preferred material for railway sleepers, due to the following factors: long-term durability; improved geometric retention of track and greater weight vital for high-speed and heavy freight lines; improved elasticity of track; improved ride quality; low first cost; minimum life cycle cost; low cost of maintenance; environmental friendliness - no chemical treatment required and can be recycled. As all aspects of precast concrete railway track systems, from design through manufacture to installation and maintenance, have progressed since the publication of the FIP report, an update was considered timely, in order to provide a synthesis of currently available information. This new edition covers quality, design, production, durability, maintenance and environmental considerations, and includes survey on the use of precast concrete track systems in over 30 countries.

This textbook examines key railway engineering topics useful for railway design and control. Conventional railways are considered together with high-speed railways, tramways, metros, maglev and hyperloop systems, people movers, monorails and rack railways. Every system of transport is described in its basic technical characteristics, especially in terms of transportation system capacity, alignment design criteria and construction costs. It is an introductory book to specific topics of the railway engineering field, and thus, the mathematical treatment is purposely brief and simplified. The book is an ideal learning resource for students of civil engineering, as well as a valuable reference for practicing engineers involved with railway designs.

Prestressed Concrete provides a comprehensive coverage of the theoretical and practical aspects of the subject and includes the latest developments in the field of prestressed concrete construction. It incorporates the latest Indian Standard specifications and codes regulating prestressed concrete construction. The book introduces the properties of the materials and prestressing systems used in the PSC construction. Topics discussed on analysis of PSC sections for flexure, deflection, shear and torsion. In addition to this, analysis and design of various prestress concrete elements such as continuous beams, composite sections, one way slabs, two way slabs, flat slabs, grid floors, compression members, tension members, pipes, piles and tanks are discussed. Analysis and design of various PSC structures such as bridges, sleepers, pavements and poles are also covered. Construction techniques are well illustrated through numerous figures and a number of illustrative examples. Objective questions illustrated are quite useful for those appearing for competative examinations. The content of this book serve the needs of both students and professionals.

Methods of risk and reliability analysis are becoming increasingly important as decision support tools in various fields of engineering. Safety, Reliability and Risk Analysis: Beyond the Horizon covers a wide range of topics for which risk analysis forms an indispensable field of knowledge to ensure sufficient safety.

In railway applications, performance studies are fundamental to increase the lifetime of railway systems. One of their main goals is verifying whether their working conditions are reliable and safety. This task not only takes into account the analysis of the whole traction chain, but also requires ensuring that the railway infrastructure is properly working. Therefore, several tests for detecting any dysfunctions on their proper operation have been developed. This book covers this topic, introducing the reader to railway traction fundamentals, providing some ideas on safety and reliability issues, and experimental approaches to detect any of these dysfunctions. The objective of the book is to serve as a valuable reference for students, educators, scientists, faculty members, researchers, and engineers.