Track life expectancy

[telstarbox]

How long is track expected to last before it needs replacement? Presumably it depends on how intensively the line is used?

 

[DXMachina]

How long is track expected to last before it needs replacement? Presumably it depends on how intensively the line is used?

This thread about the oldest track seen in use may offer some relevant info

 

[Cambo_flyer]

it depends on usage of course but an overall figure of 30-35 years is a common assumption. Individual components may last less (eg 10yrs for rail, 15 for ballast).

 

[IanXC]

The system on the Up Fast around Thirsk has recently been replaced. It was previously concrete sleepers, with 2 protruding bolts at each side between which the rail is placed with nuts applied above.

I'm told these sleepers had been in place since around 1970!

 

[DarloRich]

How long is track expected to last before it needs replacement? Presumably it depends on how intensively the line is used?

it depends on lots of things - do you just mean rail or do you mean all of the rail, sleepers, ballast etc?

 

[Ploughman]

The system on the Up Fast around Thirsk has recently been replaced. It was previously concrete sleepers, with 2 protruding bolts at each side between which the rail is placed with nuts applied above.

I'm told these sleepers had been in place since around 1970!

This sounds like an AD Fastening. The use of which dates back to the late 50s early 60s. Still plenty in the ground including on the ECML in the North East.

As to the original question.
Life all depends on use, maintenance and situation.

On the ECML Rail wear used to be taken as a mm of wear per year on the straight.
Which would give approx 5 years before it needed replacing.
Chemical reaction can influence wear, Road salt at crossings can rot rail in 2 years.
Other locations rail can be in the ground for 70 years or more.
Hull Seamer had a lot of 1941 dated rail, York - Scarborough had miles of 1930s dated rail. A lot of which has been renewed in the last 10 years.

Sleepers, Timber - anywhere between 10 and 50 years.
Concrete - 1950s saw the regular introduction of concrete sleepers both in BH and FB types. Much still in the ground on secondary lines.
Main lines are gradually replacing the 1970s F27 types with new G44s
Steels - The oldest BR types that I know of are in the ground between Pannal and Harrogate dating from about 1985.

Ballast - Depends on Weight of traffic, Depth, Maintenance and local conditions.
By local conditions I mean possibly alongside a field that blows a dust storm across the tracks silting up the ballast within 2 years of a renewal. Or regular mineral traffic dropping Stone or Coal Dust.
The old Tilcon train from Grassington to Hull left a white dust trail all the way.
Ballast should be Ok for 20 - 30 years.

 

[Joseph_Locke]

I'd go with that.

We had rail lasting only two years at Hayfell (sidewear) but much track that was pre-electrification (including the ballast).

 

[222001]

The track through Chesterfield station has BR - 1976 imprinted on it, that makes it 38 years old! I read in a Network Rail document that a surprising percentage of mainline track on the Midland Main Line is from the 70s too.

"The main lines on East Midlands Route were nearly all converted from Jointed Track to Continuous Welded Rail (CWR) in the late 1960s and early 1970s and as a consequence of this approximately 23% of all rail is pre 1976 in age with around a third of this being on the main lines."

 

[Ploughman]

On the NYMR we have just completed a 96 length relay.
The BH Chairs on the concrete sleepers we took out were dated around the 1940s.
We actually laid these in ourselves in 1981.
The sleepers have been replaced with ex NWR F27 concretes but we have installed brand new rail dated 2013 / 2014.
Some of the ballast has even been brought in by DBS via the Esk Valley over the last few weeks.
Hopefully that should be it for the next 25 years on that stretch.