For the past years, aerodynamically induced ballast pick-up has been a problem when setting high speed trains into Operation on new or remodelled high speed lines. The effects were extensively investigated in field. Due to the experience from the international projects it is dared to say that aerodynamic ballast pick-up is principally not a big issue. A reasonable designed train with smooth under floor area and no steps in the course of the under floor height will be able to operate even on the worse track configurations. The effect of blow-out or running-in of tracks has been underestimated before but is clearly to be taken into account. Otherwise higher train-speeds operations like the ICE3 derived Velaro E in Spain or the TGV 150 cannot be explained in comparison to earlier aerodynamic ballast incidents. A much more serious issue is the unavoidable snow and ice accumulation causing ballast pick-up when dropping down. Consequences of climate change as well as new high-speed lines in more continental climates have caused numerous nasty ballast pick-up incidents in the past years. All efforts must be focussed to solve this challenge. Currently the available effective solutions for ice-drop ballast pick-up are: Deep sweeping as practiced in Germany or Ballast pick-up alarm concept combined with temporary speed reductions.
Ballast pick-up, international experiences with highspeed-trains: Observations, simple physics and counter-measures
Aerodynamische Anforderungen an Schienenfahrzeuge und Nachweisführung, Bahn-Aerodynamik 2010, 2010 ; 59-74
2010
16 Seiten, 13 Bilder, 11 Quellen
Conference paper
English
Experimental Study on the Ballast Pick-Up Problem in High Speed Trains
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