Track

XiTRACK ballast stabilisation (which is pronounced ‘Zy-track) is a product that has been used in the UK for a number of years and is rapidly gaining in popularity. The concept is relatively straightforward – by mixing the component parts of a polyurethane type material on site, it can be poured onto the surface of the ballast and penetrate into it before it sets a few seconds later. The net result is the ballast matrix is captured in a strong cage of polymer strands, yet it remains free draining.

The clever part is the matching of the system and design to each site. Different polymer types have known strengths and stiffness and will penetrate to predetermined depths in the ballast layer.  Balfour Beatty Rail Technologies work with XiTRACK Ltd. who use an advanced software system to produce a design that caters for required track stiffnesses or end restraint forces and to produce a workable solution that still enables future maintenance (such as allowing a layer of free ballast for tamping).

The system is used for managing areas of varying ground and track stiffness or where that stiffness needs to change by a determined amount to prevent a deterioration in track quality – such as on the approach to slab track, structures or wheel timber bridges. It is particularly effective in areas of tight clearance as since XiTRACK is fast curing, locations with issues such as tight tunnel tolerances can be solved in hours rather than the days or weeks a concrete solution would require significantly reducing costly track downtime and disruption to rail services.

It is durable too, delivering sustained track alignment and geometry to a designed high specification, reducing the need for maintenance. This is particularly useful for problem areas of line where tight tolerances are needed such as at platform interfaces or where a memory effect in the ballast would otherwise create a maintenance headache. It can be applied in a wide range of temperature and weather conditions and the set material is environmentally safe with a very long life expectancy.

The XiTRACK trademark is owned by XiTRACK Limited