Friesland track ballast renewal [07/05/08]
Site: Mantgum, Friesland, The Netherlands. Client/Specifier: ProRail. Contractor: Spitzke. Product: Protexia RK4.2c (geotextile/geogrid composite). Product functions: Filter/Separator with Reinforcement.
The Spitze ballast-cleaning train is used extensively to deal with contaminated ballast. Running at 3m/s, the train lifts a length of the track, extracts, washes and re-places the ballast. The track is then lowered back in to place. This exercise is also a good opportunity to deploy a geosynthetic to combat the contamination problem and extend the maintenance interval. On this occasion, RK4.2c - a textile/grid composite, was installed to stabilise the ballast/subgrade interface and reduce the upward movement of subgrade fines.
Using the 30m long by 3.2m wide composite, supplied by edilon)(sedra, avoided the complication of controlling two separate products and the result was a faster installation.
Renewal of the 12km length of track was completed in under 27 hours.
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