Quality assurance and control system for railway track tamping

Abstract

Ensuring stable parameters of a railway track after bringing it into a design position is a key measure of quality for evaluating completed repairs. Identifying quality criteria for sleeper tamping using a special rolling stock is a high-priority problem for a railway track infrastructure. This problem is complicated by a large choice of ballast compaction, leveling and finishing machines, totaling more than 30 types. The paper presents results of theoretical studies aimed at assuring and controlling the quality of tamping by multi-purpose track machines. The factors that determine the stability of railway track parameters in operation were identified. The track repair processes were analyzed. The operating factors that are essential for developing qualitative process parameters were identified for various types of track machines. Based on the findings of these studies, a quality assurance and control methodology was developed for railway track repair and maintenance operations.