Zig zags on bay platform rails

[trebor79]

What purpose do the zig zags welded on top of the rails near the ends of bay platforms serve?

 

[Elecman]

Track circuit actuation,

 

[Highlandspring]

They’re called eutectic strips.

 

[krus_aragon]

There's an in-depth discussion of them in an old thread here.

 

[Ken H]

What purpose do the zig zags welded on top of the rails near the ends of bay platforms serve?

so the track circuits work when the railheads are covered in grime.

 

[Aictos]

I always wondered what they were designed for myself so ta for explaining all