RAILWAY ENGINEERING (CENG 5242)

CHAPTER 5 SWITCHES & TURNOUTS

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 CHAPTER 5
SWITCHES & TURNOUTS

5.1 the Switches and their function

5.2 types of switches
5.3 components of a single switch
5.4 Turnout
5.5 Railway Clearance

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 5.1 The Switches and their function
 Switches are of special importance for railways, as they
are the prerequisite for the development of networks, i.e. for
the branching and joining of tracks
 The productivity and line speed of a railway is essentially
influenced by the number and type of its switches

Turnouts and crossings facilitate

to the rolling stocks to run from
one track in to or across another
track.
 The structure of a switch is far
more complicated and expensive
than that of the track grid
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 The Switches
The purpose of crossings is allow two track to intersect at
same level
Switches are structural elements requiring high
investment and large-scale maintenance, they can severely
hinder vehicle traffic

The purchase costs for one effective meter of a switch

(depending on the type of switch) are up to four times higher
than for one meter of track

 Switches must be arranged and designed in such a way as

to achieve a favorable layout of the line- from the point of
view of the dynamics of vehicle movement
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 The Switches

 These design decisions are very important, as high

dynamic forces might occur due to structural defects which
then lead to defective track position and early wear

 The same standard of maintenance has to be achieved for

switches and for track in order to prevent switches from
becoming sources of disturbance.

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 The Switches
The stress on the structural elements of switches is much higher
than on track elements, as it is not possible to avoid places of
discontinuous stress.
 Therefore, traditional switches can fulfill their task only up to a
certain speed and stress level.
 New solutions have had to be found for the geometry and structure
of switches on which trains pass at high speed and which are subject
to high stress

 Switches enable vehicles to pass from one track to another

without interrupting their run
 Crossings are the intersection of two tracks, diamond crossings
with slips make it possible for vehicles to pass from one track to
another without interrupting their run at the point of intersection
 The service life of a switch on wooden sleepers is nowadays 20
years, on concrete sleepers about 30 years
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 5.2 Main types of switches
The main types of switches:
• crossings and diamond crossings with slips
• split/single switches
• symmetrical switches
• three way switches

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 Crossings
Crossings

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 Crossings
Diamond crossings with slip/Slip switches

Schematic representation of a double diamond crossing

with slip, with blades arranged within the diamond
crossing

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 Crossings
Diamond crossings
Cross-over, double cross-over

Curve diamond crossing

Two Intersecting crossovers with central diamond crossing 10

 crossovers
Diamond crossings

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 5.3 Components of a single switch
1. Switch proper: two Stock rails, two switch rails, rail fastening and
switch machine (switch stand)
2. frog: frog centre, wing rails, appropriate rail fastenings. Movable frog,
rigid frog
3. check/guard rails
4. Intermediate rails

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 5.4 Turnout
 Since the train usually needs to
transfer from one line to another, the
turnout is set to connect the lines
 Turnout is an important part of the rail,
as its large quantity, short life, limited
speed and low safety, it is called the three
big weak links with the curve and the joint.

• Turns one track into two

• Three basic components
Switch
Closure Curve
Frog
• Are designated by their frog number
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Standard turnout

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 Simple turnout
(1) components
 The railroad switch: stock rail and switch rail- to determine
the opening direction of turnout
 The frog and guard rail: wing rail, guard rail and frog - to
ensure the safety
 The pontes: straight rail and curve rail- to connect the line

line A the railroad the pontes the frog and guard rail
switch
stock switch rail
curve rail guard rail
rail
wing rail
frog
gap in the frog
switch line
B
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 Simple turnout
Characteristic:
① main line is straight
② side line is curve
③ setting rail brace

main line

rail brace side line

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 Simple turnout
(2) the railroad switch
function: to guide the direction
constitution: two stock rails, two switch rails, some union pieces
and switch equipment.

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 Simple turnout

a) Stock Rail :usually with a

length of 12.5m or 25m
b) Switch rail
switch blade and stock rail

Cross-sectional drawing of T-rail

switch blade
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 Simple turnout
(3) The frog and guard rail
consist of wing rail, guard rail, frog and some union pieces
frog

guard rail

railroad switch

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 The frog

consist of wing rail and frog

There are two types of frogs

1. movable frog
2. Fixed/rigid frog

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 The frog
•Permit the wheel flange to cross over Rigid frog
opposing rail in turnouts & crossings.
size of frog

EF
N  ctg 
AE
The 
larger the size N is, the smaller the angle
it could, and the faster the allowable speed is. 21
 2) guard rails
The function of guard rails are
to counter act the dynamic force at the switch,
strengthen the stock rails,
prevent derailment wheel due to joints at the frog etc.

guard rail guard rail

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 (3) the pontes

consist of straight rail and curve rail to join the

switch area to the frog and guard rail

line A the railroad switch the pontes the frog and guard rail

stock rail switch rail curve guard rail

rail
wing rail
gap in the frog frog
switch line B

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(4) Right and left turnouts

right-turnout

left-turnout

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 Symmetrical turnout
Symmetrical turnout increase the radius of curve rail,
improve the speed and can shorten the length of the station

Characteristics:
① Both left and right lead
curves shall be sidings with
equal diameters, neither in
straight nor side direction
② It is able to increase the
diameters of lead curves while
reducing lengths of station
yards.
③ Suitable for locomotive
depots, arrival yards, freight
yards, etc.

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 Three-throw turnout

 It has three frogs and can lead to three directions

 It can decrease the use of land; but the

life of its switch rail is short and it has gap
in frog without the guard rail.

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 feature：
Slip switch ① Combination of two simple
turnouts achieve the function of two
 It can lead to four turnouts.
directions ② The connecting length of line is
 Though the connecting obviously reduced.
length is shorten, there ③ The structure and maintenance of
exists gap in frog without turnouts are complicated, and the
guard rail safety is poor.
④ It is applicable to the station
restricted by landform.

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Slip switch

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Slip switch

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Special turnout

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Cross equipment

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Switch with integrated hydraulic setting and locking system

The locking system is integrated in a hydraulic setting cylinder.

The principle of an integrated locking and switching machine
enables the blades to move sequentially so less power is needed
at the same time.
Design inputs and steps- Generalized
1. Select the following inputs
• Rail type：50、60、75kg/m
• Frog size/angle: N=cot a (Based on speed and closure R)
• Sleeper type：wooden sleeper, concrete sleeper
• Frog type： movable frog, rigid frog
2. Geometrical design of main dimensions
- switch proper geometry- ( length of switch, stock rails)
- Lead curve geometry- superelevation & R(Rate of curvature)
- Frog and guardrail, wing rail geometry – attack angle, gap in frog
3. Consideration and check to the limit
- kinetic energy rejection
- Rate of super elevation
- centrifugal force, a= v2/R
4. Follow the design standard and iterate until economical, safe and
suitable geometry for maximum speed operation
Layout of Turnout dimensions
 Switch calculations and design
The relationship b/n
- radius of curve, R Note: Straight crossing d is
- crossing angle and less than gauge length s.
- speed, V
The acceleration and speed can be related as;

Note: for α<<1, then cosα = 1- ½ α2 and

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 Switch calculations and design
Calculation of curve radius
and length of normal turnout

Note: on curve crossing d is

greater than gauge length s.

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calculations of main dimensions

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calculations of main dimensions
Assuming

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 Turnout Speed
Types:
straight turnout crossing speed ;
side turnout crossing speed.
• Determined by points and closure curve
• For curved points, must also consider the
point of radius
• Self –guarded frogs are usually 15mph limit

Arema p. 249
 Turnout Speed
• Identified by “frog number”
- Field identification of Turnout….HOW???

N
1
PS PI
• Typical frog numbers:
– Mainline No.20 or 24
– Sidings No.15
– Yards and Industry No. 11
• Diverging turnout speed ~ 2 x N
 Factors restricting speed
through switch main
（1）Attack angle of switch
Attack angle of guard rail
Attack angle of wing rail

Attack angle of guard &

t1  t w
wing rail sin  g  sin  w 
Nt1
 Factors restricting speed through switch main

2) Structural un smoothness
Positions: switch proper, frog
Directions: vertical, lateral
Switch
and
stock
rail
contact

Switch rail blade

 Measures increasing speed through switch main

Two main measures：

 New structure
Movable frog instead of rigid frog,
Elastic bended switch rail instead of rail joint

 new material
 AT rail
 Elastic guard rail
 Wing rails with special section

 Optimized structure layout and dimensions;

Increase easement segment of guard rail and wing rail,
Minimize the attack angle
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 Measures increasing speed through switch branch-
general
 Using switches with big numbers(increasing the lead
curve radius)
 Using symmetric switches, branch speed can be
increased by 30～40%
 Improving layout design of switch, e.g. using curved
switch rail, curved frog
 Strengthening the switch components, doing regularly
maintenance
 Reducing attack angle
 5.5 Railway clearance
Definition
To ensure the safety, all that buildings and equipments close to
the line, must be kept their distance
There also have certain provisions for the train

Types
(1) the locomotive clearance
(2) the structure approaching clearance
(3) the max limited clearance for out-of-gauge freight

Clearance diagram
datum line:
vertical: rail surface
horizontal: center line of track 47
 Railway clearance
The locomotive and structure
approaching clearance

the structure
approaching clearance
the locomotive clearance

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 Railway clearance
In order to ensure the safety of train operation, all the buildings and equipments close to
the railway should keep a certain distance from the line. There are also requirements
for the cross-sectional dimensions of the vehicles on the railway line. Those specified
dimension are called gauges which include vehicle gauge and railway structure gauge.

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 Railway clearance
out-of-gauge freight
When any part of the freight is beyond the locomotive clearance,
it is called out-of-gauge freight.
according to the degree, it is divided into three levels:
level Ⅰ, level Ⅱ and level Ⅲ.

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 Railway clearance
The locomotive clearance should be widen while on curve.

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?
Thanks!

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RAILWAY ENGINEERING (CENG 4242)

CHAPTER 4 RAILWAY STATION

 CHAPTER 4 RAILWAY STATION
 Definition, basic tasks and classification of
railway station
 Distribution and location of stations
 ideas about crossing station 、overtaking station
、district station 、marshalling station 、railway
terminal and high-speed station
 Layout of intermediate station

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 4.1 Definition, Basic tasks and
Classification of railway station
Definition
Station is a basic production unit of railway transportation,
integrating technical equipment relating to transportation.

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Basic tasks
Passenger traffic service and goods traffic service, such as
passengers’ boarding and alighting, goods consignment,
goods loading and unloading, goods delivery and
safekeeping, etc.

boarding and alighting goods consignment

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 Various technical operations of railway transportation , such as
train reception and departure, passing, overtaking, disassembly
and marshalling, change of locomotive and train crew, train
technology and freight examination

train reception and disassembly and train technology and

departure marshalling freight examination
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Classification
According to the character of technical operation
In passenger traffic line: the overtaking station, the
intermediate station, and the originating train departure-
arrival station
mixed passenger and freight railway: crossing
station, overtaking station, the intermediate station,
district station and marshalling station
According to the passenger and freight traffic volume
in passenger traffic line: super-large station, large
station, medium station, and small-sized station
mixed passenger and freight railway ：super class
station, Class-I, II, III, IV and V stations
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 4.2 Distribution and location of station
• Meaning of distribution and location of station
– Complying with the transportation requirement,
distribution and location of station shall be
confirmed after comprehensively considering
factors including topographical and geological
conditions, difficulty degree of engineering;
conditions for other tracks connecting, and
whether it is convenient for local passenger and
freight transportation

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8
• Basic principle of distribution of station
– To ensure an enough passing capacity, a railway
line is divided into several sections.
– Combining distribution of station with route
selection

Fig. diagram of section in a single-line railway section, with

home signal s as train spacing point of sections. 9
• Steps for distribution of station
– railway line for passenger traffic
• firstly distribute the large station according to the
distribution of cities along the route of line, and then
distribute medium and small station based on the
plane location
– line for mixed passenger and freight traffic
• firstly distribute district stations together with the
design of locomotive routing; then combining the
paper location of line, distribute generally
intermediate station, passing station or overtaking
station to meet the required passing capacity

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 4.3 Rules for station distribution and Location
Distribution of district station for mixed passenger
and freight railway
Method of distribution of station
District station
 District station is one kind of important technical
operation stations on mixed passenger and freight
railway
 Distribution of district station has great influence
on the strike of alignment, engineering and
operation conditions, especially the operation
efficiency of the locomotive.
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• Distribution of district station
Rules for distribution
• District station shall be layout together with the location
of track connection station
- Using the basic depot of the existing line
- the newly built basic depot of the design line and
turn back at the district station of the existing line

Using the basic depot of the existing line 12

 Rules for distribution

The newly built basic depot of the design line and turn back
at the district station of the existing line

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 Rules for distribution

Try to close to large cities, larger towns industrial and

mining enterprises to meet the requirements for
collection and distribution of passenger and freight
flow and improve the production and living conditions
of the railway personnel.

Location of station shall be planned in accordance with

the development of the city and town.

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 Rules for distribution
District station shall be located in the place in plain
terrain and sound geological condition, with less
farmland, convenient for treatment of “waste gas, waste
water and waste residue” and with convenient water
source and power supply.

To reduce investment in train reorganization

equipment and complete assisting vehicle equipment, it
is suitable to set up the district station at train transfer
places and assisting vehicle pick-up places.

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Distribution of Intermediate Station, Passing Station or
Overtaking Station(mixed line for passenger and
freight)

Purpose of setting the stations

To meet the desired carrying capacity of railway and
serve the passenger and freight transportation of urban and
rural along the line.

The passing station and overtaking station shall be

distributed according to the running-time standards of
freight trains required by carrying capacity

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 The annual traffic capacity and number of carriage
pairs shall meet the national requirements

The station distribution of newly-built double-track

railway shall apply different standards according to
the various categories of trains, pairs of passenger
trains and running speeds
Designed Running Speed
160 140 ≤120
（km/h）
Pairs of Passenger Train —
≤30 >30 ≤20 21～40 >40
（pair/d）
Type of E 20 25 20 30 25 20
Locomotive D 25 40 35 45 40 —

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The intermediate station for passengers and freight
transportation shall be properly distributed as per
the average daily volume and in combination with
other transport ways in local areas, and in
coordination with the urban or regional program.

In particular, the intermediate station shall comply

with the technical operation requirements, if any.

Topographical, geological, hydrographic and

railway operation conditions shall be taken in to
consideration

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Distribution of Intermediate Station, Passing Station or
Overtaking Station(mixed line for passenger and freight)

The shuttle running time of the adjacent districts in single-

track technical station shall be shorter than the maximum
shuttle running time from station to station. The regulations
are specified as follows:
 Running time between the adjacent stations in the district
station shall be reduced by 4 min in district station
respectively;
 In other technical stations, if the carrying capacity from
station to station is influenced by the technical operation
time, and such influence cannot be eliminated easily in the
future, the station-to-station running time needs to be
reduced as required
 Minimal inter-station distance of newly-built railway:
Single-track: no less than (≥) 8km
Double-track: no less than (≥) 15km
The intersection distance of railway junction terminal
shall be no less than (≥) 5km.
Stations in too short distance will cause additional
construction and operation costs, and even worsen the
operational indicators.

Distance between station (High-speed line for passenger traffic ）

The distance between two stations of high-speed railway with
passenger transportation business is mainly constrained by the
city layout and distance between cities.

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 In addition, as train running speed of high-speed railway is not
the same, it’s necessary to set up an overtaking station
between passenger stations with long-distance for high-speed
railway to keep the distance between stations balanced

 Generally, the average distance between two stations including

an overtaking station is preferably 30-50 km. When the
distance between naturally distributed passenger stations is
longer than 50 km, if the section enjoys unlimited throughout
capacity, and no overtaking station is set in the section, future
station-adding condition shall be maintained.

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 Distribution of large intermediate stations
Large intermediate station of special line for passenger
train is usually set in the railway junction terminal,
municipality and provincial capital city, and enjoys
abundant passenger transportation business

 Large intermediate stations mainly deal with service for

stopping of most high-speed and medium-speed trains, and
passing operation of few high-speed and medium-speed trains
as well as starting and ending operation of many high-speed
trains.

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To attract passengers from large and small cities along the
railway, general intermediate station of special line for
passenger train is distributed as per the location of
municipality, county town and county-controlled city
along the railway.

the distribution of High-speed passenger dedicated line

shall be good for attracting passengers from large and
small cities along the railway.

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 Other factors:
 When the high-speed railway line is close to the
track-connection passenger station of the existing
railway (connecting the existing stations of main line
in many directions), with more passengers transiting
high-speed line and local reception and departure,
high-speed station should be set near the existing
station preferably

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– Distribution of station shall meet the needs of distribution
of passenger flow, travel convenience for urban dwellers,
train operation optimization, design capacity and
maintenance. distribution of station should also be
convenient for travelling at traffic hubs

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 Location of station
Rules
 Combining the urban and rural layout and meeting
the requirement of local passenger and freight
transportation
 Engineering conditions including landform, geology,
relocation and reconstruction
 Making full advantage of the existing railway facilities
 Combination of station location and urban planning
 Reasonable combination between station location
selection and section main line

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Location of station

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 Passing and overtaking stations
Passing station
 Passing stations are set on the passenger-and-freight
single-track railway
 It deals with the arrival and departure, meeting and
passing. Besides, there may be a little passenger and
freight business.
 Arrival-departure tracks shall be laid in passing
stations, and facilities for communication, signal, and
passenger alighting and boarding as well as technical
offices shall be provided

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Passing station
Passing station layout diagram
transverse station

tandem station
 Overtaking Station
 Stations set on double track railways and responsible
for dealing with the surpassing of trains travelling in
the same direction are called overtaking stations.
 The main task of overtaking station is to deal with the
passing-through of the trains on the main line, entering and
exiting the arrival-departure track of waiting trains and
stop-and-waiting of trains.
 Overtaking station on passenger-and-freight railway may
deal with shunting of trains in opposite directions when
necessary, and a little passenger and freight business.
 Arrival-departure tracks shall be laid in passing stations,
and facilities for communication, signal, and passenger
alighting and boarding as well as technical offices shall be
provided. 30
Overtaking station layout diagram

Overtaking station with one single arrival-departure

track for passenger and freight
 4.4 Intermediate station Layout
Operation
Commercial operation
ticketing
passenger alighting and boarding
luggage receiving and distributing
freight consignment storage and handover

boarding and alighting

goods consignment
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 Technical operation
dealing with the passing and surpassing and departure of
trains
attaching and detaching
less-than-carload train shunting
taking-out and placing-in of cars and loading-unloading
operations
 special line operations are offered for double line railway to
adjust the trains in opposite directions. Operations such as
assisting vehicle attaching and detaching, waiting and turn-
around and preparation shall be dealt with at intermediate
stations for locomotive turnaround as well as those for
assisting vehicle starting and ending.
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Layout diagram

Single-track Intermediate Station Diagram

Double-track Intermediate Station Diagram

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 Main equipment of facilities

• Passenger traffic facility

– passenger station building
– Platform
– level corridor or overpass facilities

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 Passenger station building shall coordinate with urban
planning and the general layout diagram of the station and shall
be convenient for passenger passing

The station building shall be placed near residential area and

to the best shall be erected at the middle part so that the
passengers alighting and boarding may be as convenient as
possible.

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Passenger platform
classification
Basic and intermediate platforms
Length of platforms
length of the platform shall be set as 300~500m,
subject to the recent passenger amount and train
length and enlargement needs.
When passenger amount is relatively small and
the train is relatively short, the platform length
may be reduced properly.
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Width of platforms
Single-track railway intermediate platform
width shall be no less than 4m and double
track railway shall be no less than 5m. When
overpass facilities are provided the platform
shall be widened as needed.
Height of platform
High platform（1100mm）
Middle platform（500mm）
Low platform（300mm）

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 Relation between platform and building

•Level track

•Above track
•Under track
Passenger traffic facility
Passenger station building
Relation between platform and building
The scale of station building is subject to the largest
number of the passengers waiting for trains at one time.
Intermediate station building scales are mostly medium or
small, and generally fixed design is adopted. Common
capacity of small station building may be 50, 100, 200
and 400 persons.

•level track •Below track

•Above track
Level passageway and overpass (bridge) facilities
Level passageway
1~2
At the two ends or middle
overpass (bridge)
over-bridge
tunnel

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• Goods equipment
– One or two level corridors shall be provided between
the main platform and intermediate platform for
passage, the corridor shall be no less than 2.5m wide.
– When needed, overpass and subways may be
constructed in large and medium station where the
passenger amount (i.e. the alighting and boarding
persons) is large.

Fright yards
Include Warehouse, freight platform, freight track,
loading and unloading facilities, freight offices

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Freight platform
ordinary platform——1.1m higher than the top of
rail
high platform ——over 1.1m higher than the top
of rail
Tracks Equipment
Main line
Station tracks
arrival-departure track
freight track
lead track
storage siding
Private sidings
Branch
special line
industrial enterprise line
tracks for special purposes
safety line
refuge siding
Typical layout of freight yard

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Home work- Assignment…

Plane Calculation of Intermediate

Station….Next