scope:

This document covers:

a)  competency management and requirements;

b)  planning and design;

c)  preparation of site;

d)  installation;

e)  commissioning;

f)   post installation checks;

g)  removal of temporary rail joints;

h)   fish bolt hole management;

i)   critical rail temperature management;

j)   recording of location via a temporary joint register.

This standard applies to those who plan, install, check and commission temporary rail joints to operational traffic. This standard does not apply to temporary

rail joints that are used for construction purposes and only within a possession or clamped rail defects/welds.

Purpose

This standard is intended  to control the risk of the following failure modes occurring at temporary rail joints following installation:

a)  poor running band alignment including  sidewear;

b)  clamps / plates not installed  correctly;

c)  clamping system coming loose whilst open to traffic;

d)  poor vertical support to joint (e.g. sleeper/ballast  conditions);

e)  installation of poor-quality  components (e.g. plates/clamps);

f)   installation plan changes (e.g mitigation  plan invoked, not welding as planned);

g)  rail end gap (too wide);

h)  track buckle (rail end gap too tight);

i)   track circuit failures.

These failure modes can all be attributed to inconsistent methods of installation.  The purpose of this document is to provide clear instruction on the planning and installation of temporary rail joints and facilitate compliance with the Level 2 standards.