ABSTRACT
The paper focuses primarily on research conducted at Emperor Alexander I St. Petersburg State Transport University for enhanced track performance. When heavy trains with high axle and linear loads run, the vibration impact on the track increases. In order to identify the stress distribution in the subgrade soils during the passage of heavy trains, experimental studies were conducted on the October railway. Freight trains were presented by standard cars with locomotives and heavy trains, which had the same locomotives, running with double heading. Special trains transport iron ore concentrate in special cars such as hopper-batchers or gondola wagons. Heavy trains run as double trains with 120–130 cars and 6–10 multiple unit locomotives at speeds of 30–60 km/h. As the train speed rise the stresses increase without regard to the type of rolling stock. Generally, when the rolling stock has axle loads ranging from 200 to 260 kN the stresses vary with the speed at the top of subgrade. The heavier axle loads have posed serious geotechnical issues with ballasted railway tracks.
