CE407

TRANSPORTATION
ENGINEERING - II

Introduction to Railways
in India: lecture 1
Module 1 syllabus:

 Introduction to Railways in India:

 Role of Indian Railways in National Development
 Railways for Urban Transportation
 Modern developments- LRT & MRTS, tube railways,
high speed tracks.
 Alignment- basic requirements and factors affecting
selection,
 Component parts of a railway track - requirements
and functions –
 Typical cross-section
Introduction:
 “Transportation regarded as an index of
economic, social and commercial progress
of a country”
 Transportation undertakes mere movement of persons

and things from one place to another

 Whole structure of industry and commerce rests on the

well laid foundation of transport

 Adequate transport indispensable for economic and

social progress of a nation

Role of Indian Railways in National
Development
 Indian Railway provides the most important mode of
public transport in India. This is the most commonly
used and cost effective long distance transport system
of the country. Indian Railway is operating by Ministry
of Railways. Indian Railways is touching life of almost
every people across India covering 29 states and 7
Union Territories with its over 40,050 miles or 64,460
kilometers railway network as of 2011
 Indian Railways is the fourth largest railway in the
World which is transporting around 7651 million
passengers & over 921 MT of freight per annum (As of
2011).
 Considering its importance, Railways were
first introduced in India with passenger rail
service from Mumbai to Thane on 16th April,
1853 by two companies, East India Railway
and Great Indian Peninsular Railway. Both the
companies were created to construct railway
line between Kolkata and Mumbai. Then the
Governor General of India, Lord Dalhousie
made plan to construct various railway lines
between principle regions in India.
 Indian Railways is also helping Indian
economy in many ways like by providing fast
and reliable transport medium for various
needy articles across the country. These
include Rice, Wheat, Cereals and Vegetable
oils etc.
 Indian Railways is also transporting various

petroleum products like Petrol, Diesel,

Cooking Gas, Natural Gas, Kerosene etc.
 Duronto Express: Duronto Express, the non-stop trains
which eventually running faster than Rajdhani Express
between state capitals & major cities.
 Rajdhani Express: The Rajdhani Express, the full AC train
which connects all major cities to our capital New Delhi. It
is running at over 150 km per hour.
 Shatabdi and Jan Shatabdi Express: These are only chair
car trains which connect inter cities in the neighbouring
states.
 Garib Rath Express: These are trains which has AC 3 tier
facilities at the lower cost in compare to different train in
the same class.
 .
 Superfast Express: These trains are running more over 55
km per hours and have few stops in their travelling routes.
 Express and Mail Train: These are common kinds of trains
which have more stops than super fast trains in India but
have lower fare than it.
 Fast Passenger and Passenger Train: These common trains
have lowest fares and have sitting, sleeper class facilities.
These trains stop at almost every station.
 Suburban Trains: The Suburban trains are running in the
major cities in India like Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai
etc. These trains have only sitting facilities and fare starts
at only Rs. 5.00. The Mumbai Suburban trains have
1st Class facilities
Zones Indian railway
Indian Railways is
divided into 17
zones.
1. Northern
2. North Eastern
3. North Frontier
4. Eastern
5. South Eastern
6. South Central
7. South
8. Central
9. Western
10. South Western
11. North Western
12. West Central
13. North Central
14. South East Central
15. East coast
16. East Central
17. Kolkata Metro
Railways for Urban
Transportation
 Urban rail transit  is an all-encompassing
term for various types of local rail systems
providing passenger service within and
around urban or suburban areas.
 tram
monorail

Light rail
Metro rail
 Basic Requirements of an Ideal
Alignment
 Purpose of the New Railway Line
 The alignment of a new railway line should serve the

basic purpose for which the railway line is being

constructed. As brought out earlier, the purpose may
include strategic considerations, political
considerations, developing of backward areas,
connecting new trade centres, and shortening
existing rail lines
 Integrated Development
 The new railway line should fit in with the general

planning and form a part of the integrated

development of the country.
 Economic Considerations
 The construction of the railway line should be as economical as possible. The
following aspects require special attention
 Shortest route It is desirable to have the shortest and most direct route
between the connecting points. The shorter the length of the railway line, the
lower the cost of its construction, maintenance, and operation. There can,
however, be other practical considerations that can lead to deviation from the
shortest route.
  
 Construction and maintenance cost The alignment of the line should be so
chosen that the construction cost is minimum. This can be achieved by a
balanced cut and fill of earthwork, minimizing rock cutting and drainage
crossings by locating the alignment on watershed lines, and such other technical
considerations. Maintenance costs can be reduced by avoiding steep gradients
and sharp curves, which cause heavy wear and tear of rails and rolling stock.
 Minimum operational expenses The alignment should be such that the
operational or transportation expenses are minimum. This can be done by
maximizing the haulage of goods with the given power of the locomotive and
traction mix. This can he achieved by providing easy gradients, avoiding sharp
curves, and adopting a direct route.
 Maximum Safety and Comfort
 The alignment should be such that it provides maximum
safety and comfort to the travelling public. This can be
achieved by designing curves with proper transition
lengths, providing vertical curves for gradients, and
incorporating other such technical features.
 Aesthetic Considerations 
 While deciding the alignment, aesthetic aspects should
also be given due weightage. A journey by rail should be
visually pleasing. This can be done by avoiding views of
borrow pits and passing the alignment through natural
and beautiful surroundings with scenic beauty.
Component part of railway track:
 The Typical components are:
 Rails,
 Sleepers (or ties),
 Fasteners,
 Ballast (or slab track),
 Subgrade
rails
 1. Double headed rails(D.H. Rails)
 2. Bull headed rails(B.H.Rails)
 3. Flat footed rails(F.F.Rails)
 FUNCTION OF RAILS
 Rails are similar to steel girders. They perform the following

functions in a track:
 (a) Rails provide a continuous and level surface for the movement of

trains.
 b) They provide a pathway which is smooth and has very little

friction. The friction between the steel wheel and the steel rail is
about one-fifth of the friction between the pneumatic tyre and a
metalled road.
 (c) They serve as a lateral guide for the wheels.

 (d) They bear the stresses developed due to vertical loads

transmitted to them through axles and wheels of rolling stock as

well as due to braking and thermal forces.
 (e) They carry out the function of transmitting the load to a large

area of the formation through sleepers and the ballast.

 REQUIREMENTS OF AN IDEAL RAIL SECTION
 The requirements of an ideal rail section are as
follows:
 (a) The rail should have the most economical section
consistent with strength, stiffness, and durability.
 (b) The centre of gravity of the rail section should
preferably be very close to the mid-height of the rail
so that the maximum tensile and compressive
stresses are equal.
 (c) A rail primarily consists of a head, a web, and a
foot, and there should be an economical and balanced
distribution of metal in its various components so that
each of them can fulfill its requirements properly.
 Head: The head of the rail should have adequate depth to allow for vertical
wear. The rail head should also be sufficiently wide so that not only is a
wider running surface available, but also the rail has the desired lateral
stiffness. Web The web should be sufficiently thick so as to withstand the
stresses arising due to the loads bore by it, after allowing for normal
corrosion.
 Foot: The foot should be of sufficient thickness to be able to withstand
vertical and horizontal forces after allowing for loss due to corrosion. The
foot should be wide enough for stability against overturning. The design of
the foot should be such that it can be economically and efficiently rolled.
 Fishing angles :These must ensure proper transmission of loads from the
rails to the fish plates. The fishing angles should be such that the
tightening of the plate does not produce any excessive stress on the web of
the rail.
 Height of the rail :The height should be adequate so that the rail has
sufficient vertical stiffness and strength as a beam.
SLEEPERS
 Sleepers are transverse members of the track placed
below the rails to support and fix them in position.
 FUNCTIONS OF SLEEPERS
 Sleepers serve the following functions:
 To hold the rails to proper gauge.
 To transfer the loads from rails to the ballast. (iii) To
support and fix the rails in proper position.
 To keep the rails at a proper level in straight tracks and
at proper super elevation on curves.
 To provide elastic medium between the rails and the
ballast.
 To provide stability to the permanent way on the whole.
REQUIREMENTS OF GOOD
SLEEPERS
 The following are the requirements of good sleepers:
 The sleepers should be sufficiently strong to act as a beam under loads.
 The sleepers should be economical. (iii) They should maintain correct

gauge.
 They should provide sufficient bearing area for the rail.
 The sleepers should have sufficient weight for stability.

 Sleepers should facilitate easy fixing and taking out of rails without

disturbing them.
 They should facilitate easy removal and replacement of ballast.

 They should not be pushed out easily of their position in any direction

under maximum forces of the moving trains.

 They should be able to resist impact and vibrations of moving trains.

 They should be suitable to each type of ballast.

 If track-circuiting is done, it should be possible to insulate them from

the rails.
TYPES OF SLEEPERS
Sleepers are of the following types:
 Wooden sleepers
 Steel sleepers.
 Cast iron sleepers.
 R.C.C. sleepers.
 Priestesses concrete sleepers.
BALLAST
 Ballast is the granular material usually broken stone or any other
suitable material which is spread on the top of railway formation
and around the sleepers.
FUNCTIONS OF BALLAST
 Ballast in railway track performs the following functions.

 To hold the sleepers in position and preventing the lateral and

longitudinal movement.
 To distribute the axle load uniform from sleepers to a large area of

formation.
 To provide elasticity to the track. It acts as elastic mat between

subgrade and sleepers.

 To provide easy means of maintaining the correct levels of the two

rails in a track.
 To drain rain water from the track.

 To prevent the growth of weeds inside the track.

CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD BALLAST

 (i) It should have sufficient strength to resist crushing under heavy

loads of moving trains.
 (ii) It should be durable enough to resist abrasion and weathering

action.
 (iii) It should have rough and angular surface so as to provide good

lateral and longitudinal stability to the sleepers.

 (iv) It should have good workability so that it can be easily spread of

formation.
 (v) It should be cheaply available in sufficient quantity near and along

the track.
 (vi) It should not make the track dusty or muddy due to its crushing

to powder under wheel loads.

 (vii) It should allow for easy and quick drainage of the track.

 (viii) It should not have any chemical action on metal sleepers and

rails.
 TYPES OF BALLAST In India, the following
materials are used as ballast.
 (i) Broken stone. (ii) Gravel (iii) Sand (iv) Ashes

or cinders (v) Kankar (vi) Moorum (vii) Blast

furnace slag (viii) Brick ballast (ix) Selected
earth
 FIXTURES AND FASTENINGS FIXTURES AND
FASTENINGS:
 Fixtures and fastenings are fittings requires

for joining of rails end to end and also for

fixing the rails to sleepers in a track.
 FUNCTIONS OF FIXTURES AND FASTENINGS Rail
fixtures and fastenings have the following functions:
 (i) To join the rails end to end to form full length of
track.
 (ii) To fix the rails to sleepers.
 (iii) To maintain the correct alignment of the track.
 (iv) To provide proper expansion gap between rails.
 (v) To maintain the required tilt of rails.
 (vi) To set the points and crossings in proper
position.
TYPES OF FIXTURES AND FASTENING
 Fixtures and fastenings commonly used in a
permanent way are of following types:
 1. Fish plates
 2. Bearing plates
 3. Spikes
 4. Chairs
 5. Bolts
 6. Keys
 7. Anti-creepers