ABSTRACT
Answer to the question is simple. Disasters can happen. Worst-case scenario is derailments and failures of bridge superstructure. The railways bridges can be categorized in two types: bridges with ballast and bridges without ballast. Ballastless bridges have many subtypes such as old wooden sleepers and more new age embedded rails. General public can see only sleepers and rails on railway bridges, but each type of rail also has many details and special solutions, that are very critical to the behavior of the bridges. Rail structures also include the rails, guard rails and their fastenings, expansion joints, and transitions zones.
