Performance of canted ballasted track during curving of high speed trains

Tilting trains, such as the Class 390 Pendolino introduced in 2003 on the West Coast Main Line (WCML), enable trains to travel at enhanced cant deficiency (i.e. faster) on a given curve while maintaining passenger comfort by rotating the vehicle body to compensate, at least in part, for the lack of superelevation. As a result of the increased speeds, the curving forces applied at the rail head are correspondingly increased, although there is no increase in the lateral forces experienced within the train.