scope:

Overview of handbook

This handbook gives information and advice on how rail defects can be managed within the requirements of the track engineering standards, and how it is possible to achieve lasting reductions in the numbers of rail failures by focusing management attention on the causes of failure.

Section 2 shows how rail defects, combined with abnormal track loads, lead to failure, and lists the most common types of rail failure.

Ways of inspecting track to find defects and failures before the rail breaks are dealt with in section 3. Patrolling and ultrasonic inspection methods are the main focus, but other inspection methods are also covered.

Section 4 introduces the rail defect and failure numbering and reporting systems and looks at how these can be used safely to manage defects and failures from detection to close out. Flow charts are used to illustrate the sequence of actions to take once a defect or failure is found.

The engineering minimum actions which need to be taken are given in section 5. All commonly found failures are dealt with in this section, which also gives advice on any extra action needed to deal with special situations.

Finally section 6 puts forward ways in which rail failure rates can be reduced in the medium to long term by positive management. These include the adoption of newer installation and maintenance methods, and the ongoing analysis of rail defects and failures to give increase focus on their causes.