Turnout Maintenance Costs

[RichmondCommu]

Hi everyone,

I'm interested in finding out the average annual cost of maintaining a turnout controlled by a mechanically operated signal box.

Thanks for reading this.

 

[Joseph_Locke]

How big/fast?
What permissible speed, tonnage and track category is the main line?
Facing or trailing?
How far from the box?
What track access is available?
Wood or concrete?
CWR or jointed?
BH or FB?

 

[RichmondCommu]

How big/fast?
What permissible speed, tonnage and track category is the main line?
Facing or trailing?
How far from the box?
What track access is available?
Wood or concrete?
CWR or jointed?
BH or FB?

Okay you clearly know what you're talking about!

As a rough example the cost of maintaining a turnout on the Hope Valley route where the turnout is situated practically opposite the signal box.

 

[Joseph_Locke]

Assuming its a facing turnout, it'll get two FPL tests, 52 10-minute track inspections, 2 20-minute supervisor inspections, a microscopic bit of tamping and a few new bolts until it is eventually renewed - about £5-10k in total. Heavy maintenance (every 10-15 years) might run to £30k for re-timbering and £20-35k for new switches / crossing. A new one (once every 35-40 years) would run to £300k-450k depending on new materials / POE choice.

 

[deltic08]

Assuming its a facing turnout, it'll get two FPL tests, 52 10-minute track inspections, 2 20-minute supervisor inspections, a microscopic bit of tamping and a few new bolts until it is eventually renewed - about £5-10k in total. Heavy maintenance (every 10-15 years) might run to £30k for re-timbering and £20-35k for new switches / crossing. A new one (once every 35-40 years) would run to £300k-450k depending on new materials / POE choice.

But would a new one on concrete need less regular maintenance and last longer before renewing?
The Network Rail video of the factory near Nottingham is fascinating and the completed turnout appears so much more robust than some of the current turnouts seen on the system.

 

[MS805]

But would a new one on concrete need less regular maintenance and last longer before renewing?
The Network Rail video of the factory near Nottingham is fascinating and the completed turnout appears so much more robust than some of the current turnouts seen on the system.

One issue with being robust is the use these days of those "tip up" wagons to transport complete switch and crossing assemblies. Whilst this makes renewals much quicker, the "old" system of bringing it all in bits and assembling on site allowed the use of very long sleepers, i.e. across the entire two track width at a crossover, which helped minimise distortion through the two switches sharing a common foundation. It's a bit of an issue at times at Nottingham West, as it happens.

 

[Bald Rick]

A new one (once every 35-40 years) would run to £300k-450k depending on new materials / POE choice.

You can multiply that by 2. It was averaging £500k 15 years ago.

But would a new one on concrete need less regular maintenance and last longer before renewing?
The Network Rail video of the factory near Nottingham is fascinating and the completed turnout appears so much more robust than some of the current turnouts seen on the system.

It would need the same amount of inspection (which is what most maintenance is), and the switch rails / crossing itself would need ‘heavy maintenance’ (replacing) at the same frequency. But there would probably be less need for tamping, less would break and need fixing, and it would last longer to full renewal.