Innotrack

The project INNOTRACK (“Innovative Track Systems”) 

The integrated EU-project INNOTRACK (part of 6th Framework Program for advanced technologies) is the response of the European rail community to the requirement for a significant reduction of the operational track cost and to the necessity to substantially improve the operational track availability

The consortium consisted of more than 35 members from all over Europe including UIC and UNIFE, the leading European infrastructure managers and besides other industrial partners voestalpine Schienen GmbH.

voestalpine Schienen GmbH has participated in the Steering Group and has contributed its expertise in all LCC and rail related matters comprising technology and logistics. After 3 ½ years of professional work, INNOTRACK was successfully completed by December 31, 2009.

Executive summary of the results (taken from deliverable report “Definitive Guidelines on the Use of Different Rail Grades “):

„Based on site monitoring, rail degradation mechanism analyses and results of laboratory tests, the following statements can be made:

• Tight curves show high wear-rates, which decrease significantly with increasing radii.
• Especially wide curves with radii above approximately 500m are affected by rolling contact fatigue (RCF). 
• Compared to standard rail grades heat treated rails show a superior wear resistance and a superior RCF resistance at the same time.

The installation of heat treated rail grades is therefore generally recommended for curves with radii up to 3000m – 5000m.”

Radius based rail grade recommendatation

The attached table (taken from the official INNOTRACK deliverable shows the details for the recommended application:

R350HT (voestalpine HSH® R350HT, also available as light alloyed voestalpine HSH® R350LHT)
R370CrHT (voestalpine HSH® .370LHT)
R400HT (voestalpine 400UHC® )

Related links:

Innotrack projekt: http://www.innotrack.eu

6. Rahmenprogramm: http://cordis.europa.eu/fp6/