120 metres that set new limits

The avoidance of as many welding joints as possible in modern railways is a prerequisite not only for economic reasons, but also from a technical standpoint with respect to travelling comfort.

Wherever there is a weld, the smoothness of the wheel-rail system is interrupted and there is an increase in wear of the materials. The faster the trains are and the heavier the weight per axle becomes, the more this effect becomes noticeable.

With respect to the development perspectives of the railway, this is why the market share of ultralong rails is becoming ever larger. And the longest rails in the world come from Donawitz.