The superstructure:
Main problems, typical sections;
logistic of track material supply
Haramain High Speed Railway Phase 2
transport engineering and consultancy
ingeniería y consultoría de transporte
Main problems
• THE SAND is the most important problem related with the track along the high-speed line
between Mecca and Medina:
• Sandstorms and sand in suspension.
• Advance of the dunes.
• TEMPERATURE On the other hand, high temperatures do not present a problem, not cause
large temperature contrasts between summer and winter and between day-night, although the
mean ambient temperature is high.
2
transport engineering and consultancy
ingeniería y consultoría de transporte
Consequences of sand presence
3
• Can cover the route.
• Cause grind down and erosion of the
elements (electrification, communications and
signaling, ...)
• Contamination of the ballast (loss of
mechanical properties, decrease drainage,
deterioration of sleepers, rail, ...)
transport engineering and consultancy
ingeniería y consultoría de transporte
Solving the problem of sand
Preventive measures: avoid the sand reach the ballast
Corrective measures: maintenance
Active measures and design: proper track superstructure (slab track)
Objective: To reduce maintenance
Developing a plan of action and protection: studies of type of disease , quantification and
section.
4
transport engineering and consultancy
ingeniería y consultoría de transporte
Preventive measures
The design of preventive measures should be considered on sands to the maintenance plan
(frequency of cleaning the sand accumulated).
- Optimization of the layout, as far as possible, seeking to reduce the risks (design
of horizontal and vertical alignment, depth and profile of the ballast).
- Mitigation techniques and prevention of possible movement of sand on the track: using
vegetation belts as a possible solution, surface treatments, running ditches and placement of
barriers or walls and fences.
- Design of track to prevent entry of sand (slab track systems, application of ballast protection
with foam or blankets , elevated sleepers ...).
The optimization of the route has a high efficiency and low maintenance, but requires projecting
above the implementation of the infrastructure.
Any action taken subsequently to the execution of infrastructure is a high cost of implementation.
Some mitigation techniques are equally highly effective, but at greater costs of implementation and
maintenance.
The different designs of track involving the replacement of the ballast have expensive installation,
but minor maintenance, and there is not enough experience.
5
transport engineering and consultancy
ingeniería y consultoría de transporte
Preventive measures
Preventive measures
6
Superficial treatments (chemical)
Superficial treatments (gravel)
Vegetation
Protection barriers
transport engineering and consultancy
ingeniería y consultoría de transporte
Preventive Measures
Preventive Measures
7
Slab track system, with seat elevated rail
transport engineering and consultancy
ingeniería y consultoría de transporte
Embankment section in sand areas
Embankment section in sand areas
8
As techniques for mitigation or prevention of movement of sand in desert areas, the most widely
tested and effective are those based on creating belts of vegetation to protect the track and
fencing and barriers holding. Although the installation has a cost, this is not very high, offering a
good performance.
A part of the solutions that can be taken to protect the track of the sand carried by wind and its
related problems,could be very positive to leave a buffer strip on both sides (at least downwind)
of the track where the majority of the sand is stocked.
However, any option or technique requires regular maintenance to remain effective.
transport engineering and consultancy
ingeniería y consultoría de transporte
Embankment section in sand areas
Embankment section in sand areas
9
There are some proposed solutions to problem areas of high-speed route between Mecca and
Media in Saudi Arabia, under infrastructure implementation phase.
Ditch design and Draa design variants
transport engineering and consultancy
ingeniería y consultoría de transporte
Typical track cross-section
Typical track cross-section
10
Ballast track cross-section
transport engineering and consultancy
ingeniería y consultoría de transporte
Typical track cross-section
Typical track cross-section
11
Ballast track cross-section
transport engineering and consultancy
ingeniería y consultoría de transporte
Typical track cross-section
Typical track cross-section
12
Ballast track cross-section
transport engineering and consultancy
ingeniería y consultoría de transporte
Typical track cross-section
Typical track cross-section
13
Ballast track cross-section
transport engineering and consultancy
ingeniería y consultoría de transporte
Typical track cross-section
Typical track cross-section
14
Slab track
In principle and according to the bid submitted to the administration Arabia, the 449 km of the
Haramain High Speed Railway, provides for the execution, it is foreseen slab track sections
limited to location with enough embankment height (maximum 2.5m) and provided they meet the
quality requirements to ensure conditions required and ensure suitable mounting conditions, so
as to eliminate any impacts on the subsequent maintenance phase of the line.It is also expected
track system with embedded rail along the stations.
Currently there are no rules or formulas that define the methodology for the implementation of
slab track. Therefore, every possible location, according to the above criteria, must be a studied
based on each of the existing conditions and the slab track system to be used, due to the
significant risk posed by a possible failure infrastructure and the effects it may cause on the slab
track superstructure, and therefore on the operation of the railway line.
Another consideration that is made is the convenience to introduce slab track precisely in those
sections of track with problems with the sand, but the first premise must meet high embankment.
transport engineering and consultancy
ingeniería y consultoría de transporte
Typical track cross-section
Typical track cross-section
15
Slab Track
Cross Section Slab Track System RHEDA 2000®
Proposed variant RHEDA 2000® for desert areas
Measures against rail blockade
Elevated rail seat
transport engineering and consultancy
ingeniería y consultoría de transporte
Typical track cross-section
Typical track cross-section
16
Slab Track
Cross Section Slab Track VPA Type
transport engineering and consultancy
ingeniería y consultoría de transporte
Supply logistics
Supply logistics
17
It provides for the construction of 5 mounting bases all along the
line, in order to meet the supply needs of all road materials.
In general, the fundamental condition for the location of the bases
is the availability of proper road links, as all the internal logistics is
based on road transport. Much of the supply of materials from
abroad will be made by sea to the port of Jeddah.
transport engineering and consultancy
ingeniería y consultoría de transporte
Supply logistics
Supply logistics
18
- The path is assembled from rail sections of at least 25 m in length, which are delivered by
ship to the harbor, from where are distributed to the bases by road.
- Once on base, rails are gathered waiting for to be supplied to work sites.
transport engineering and consultancy
ingeniería y consultoría de transporte
Supply logistics
Supply logistics
19
- The sleepers are manufactured in 2 new plants to be installed in Saudi Arabia, both equipped
with fast connections to highways between Mecca -Jeddah-Medina.
- The approximate number of sleepers for the line is around 1,525,000 units.Also be
manufactured in both plants sleepers for switches and crossings.
- The cement will come primarily from the cement Rabigh and if necessary of the existing
Yanbu.
- There will be stocks of sleepers in both factories to ensure sufficient supply to the trace at the
right time, carried by road in trucks.
transport engineering and consultancy
ingeniería y consultoría de transporte
Supply logistics
Supply logistics
20
- In relation to the ballast will result in various quarries located along the trace and near it.The
volume of ballast provided is approximately 3,700,000 tons.
- Stockpiles will be located along the trace, transported by truck from the quarry.
transport engineering and consultancy
ingeniería y consultoría de transporte
Supply logistics
Supply logistics
21
- The ballast is distributed along the trace from such stockpiles also by road or by rail in hopper
cars
- Positioned the sleepers and ballast the next step is the track assembly task: positioning of
the rail and assembly, welding, track successive lift with corresponding risks of ballast, and
subsequent release of tension leveling of track