Rubber coating stops deterioration of the rail due to snow residue and road salt - voestalpine Track Solutions Netherlands B.V.

18 February 2021 |

We all enjoyed a beautiful winter’s week. However, what becomes visible underneath the snow and ice when the thaw sets in? Mud and road salt residues. Not the best conditions for the railway infrastructure, particularly for level crossings. Road salt and moisture, in combination with stray currents, bite into the rail, causing the metal to corrode fiercely. This process severely undermines the rail’s quality and increases the risk of premature rail replacement. Apart from hindrance to the train traffic, it is a costly affair for the maintenance contractor.

Rubber coating: the best protection

Our coating, “the Rubbercoat®”, protects the rail against external influences, such as stray currents around level crossings, moisture in tunnels, and faeces at station areas, or at wagon wash locations, but also road salt at level crossings. Our Rubbercoat® prevents rail deterioration, thereby considerably prolonging the rail’s lifespan. This means that the premature exchange of rails is no longer necessary. A valuable contribution to the overall result of the contractor’s maintenance concept.

Six years approved technology, 12 years of success

We have been applying the polyurea rubber coating application for over twelve years, which was approved by ProRail six years ago. In the regulation SPC00011-2, ProRail prescribes the coating system in specific circumstances. The technology has since proven itself on a large scale in various other applications, both in the Netherlands and abroad. Sloterdijk station, the Eurotunnel, urban traffic, and crane track renovations are successful projects where the rubber coating has offered professional protection and isolation to the rails. Inspections, research, and measurements have shown that, after all this time, these rails are still in perfect condition.

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Best quality coating; also available in longer lengths

In our upgraded coating line, part of the Rail Service Center in Hilversum, we coat the rails under conditioned circumstances, resulting in the best quality possible. Under the watchful eye of our specialists, the coating is applied to the rails. Each coated rail is individually measured to make sure that it is fully insulated. If this is the case, the rail is guaranteed to be able to resist all aggressive outside influences, like the current salt conditions.

As until recently, the coating could only be delivered in restricted lengths, it will soon be possible to offer completely coated rails with a length of up to 120 metres, or even up to 360 meters, with the inclusion of two welds. Because our coating production line was renewed last year, we can now meet the ever increasing customer demand nationally and internationally.

Delivered straight to the workplace with the greatest care

Our Robel train transports the ultra-long coated rails to your work location, with the utmost care. Coated rails need to be treated with care to ensure that the functionality is maintained. Owing to our long-standing experience, we guarantee the best quality.

Are the rails in your maintenance area also more corrosion sensitive than you would like them to be? Do you want to find out whether rubber coating could decrease the malfunctioning of your rail trajectory? Do not hesitate to contact Eric Brink or Dominique Martens.