scope:

Purpose and scope of the handbook

Plain line ballasted track accounts for approximately 70% of the LUL network. This handbook offers comprehensive advice on the maintenance of the full range of plain line ballasted track components and geometry. It is intended to assist managers in their day-to-day decisions about its maintenance. The aim is to ensure that plain line ballasted track meets the requirements of track standards and fulfils the corporate objectives of improved safety, quality and asset performance.

The activities discussed in this handbook cover the preparatory stages of identifying and planning maintenance work (section2), the necessary safety and protection measures for work on and about the track (section 3) which complement the content of Track Handbook 16, Managing track safety and the detailed maintenance of plain line ballasted track components and geometry (section 4 to 11), as well as monitoring the outcome of maintenance work, leading into the inspection activities which are the subject of Track Handbook 10, Inspection the track.

Because plain line ballasted track is exposed to a variety of conditions which can impair its quality, for example wet spots, poor top, bad alignment, and increase the risk of loss, for example broken rail, track buckle, derailment, the handbook focuses strongly on maintenance of the track support structure, i.e. rails and rail joints, rail supports and fastenings, sleepers, ballast and the formation and drainage.

 Maintenance covered in this handbook includes preventative activity, which are pro-active and seek to stop component failures and excessive wear and tear through a planned sequence of work, and corrective maintenance, which is re-active and responds to as and when they arise. The scope of the maintence tasks involved extends from the fettling of track to correcting its geometry and adjusting components to the spot renewal of life-expired sleepers,rails and other components.

The activities relating to track renewals are covered in Track Handbook 2, Renewing track, operational boundary fencing, vegetation control and problems associated with cutting and embankment stabilization are included in track Handbook 5, Maintaining the track environment and structure clearances are included in Track Handbook 14, Understanding track design.