ABSTRACT
For many decades, the organization of the unified railway activity has oriented railway science, which is interdisciplinary and requires competences of the sectors of the civil engineer, the electrical and the mechanical engineer, the economist and the manager. Thus, following railway network organization, it has become customary to distinguish railway science into three topic areas: • Track topics. Subjects of railway infrastructure are dealt with, in order to
ensure the safe operation of the rolling stock at the scheduled speed. The superstructure (rails, sleepers, fastenings, ballast or concrete slab) and the subgrade are central subjects of track topics. Track topics also include layout, stations, switches and crossings, maintenance and safety issues.
