The heat wave threatens the SBB rails

In the event of a heat wave, the temperature of the rails can reach up to 60 degrees.Image: KEYSTONE

While the heat days are increasing, the railway company must more and more refresh its tracks to prevent it from deforming. Explanations.

Summer after summer, SBB are increasingly asked to protect the railways against the distorting effects of the heat wave. The intervention teams then refresh the rails and the ballast around them. They take action up to seven times a year.

In the event of a heat wave, the temperature of the rails can reach up to 60 degrees. However, heat days are increasing. However, the problems of distorted rails do not multiply in the same proportions, reassure the SBB. The railway company summoned the media on Thursday in Olten (SO) to present them the measures allowing it to limit the damage.

“Stabilize the situation”

As soon as a rail is deformed by heat at the rate of more than 50 millimeters, the SBB intervention teams are dispatched on site with an extinction train to refresh the track with water. “It is then a question of stabilizing the situation,” explains Erich Emmenegger, head of railway lines in the Center region.

It is mainly the train drivers who signal the distorted rails at the operating plant. A switches and security facilities are sometimes also affected by the effects of heat.

“Extreme forces”

The rails are welded and expand in case of high heat. “Above all, extreme forces act on them,” said Erich Emmenegger. Once watered with water and refreshed, they are detached to release them from the pressure, then revised.

The water refreshment then resumes over an entire night. Before being able to re -assembly the rails, their temperature must be dropped to 25 degrees. The ballast is then reinforced.

On the other hand, SBBs do not arrive the tracks preventively in summer. Such an operation would be too colossal and its effect too limited, justifies Erich Emmenegger. The most important thing is to maintain the infrastructure, according to the specialist. (JZS/ATS)

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