Supporting Rapid Transit Growth with Reliable, Low-Vibration Rail Infrastructure

For Green Line North, Pandrol introduced a new construction method which allowed the contractor to concrete up to the baseplate in one possession, dramatically improving construction productivity, by reducing installation time. The Pandrol DRS system features a Pandrol e-Clip baseplate, mounted on a studded natural rubber pad that provides resilience. This can be tuned, within limits, to suit specific axle loads and stiffness requirements. The system is suitable for all rail inclinations and rail types and is optimised for top-down methods of construction, or bottom-up methods with alternative anchorage. DRS reduces the transmission of low-frequency noise and vibration due to its low stiffness.

Pandrol’s DRS provides the advantages of an indirect rail fastening system, distributing the vertical deflections between the rail pad/clips and the baseplate pad/compression springs and separating the functions of the anchorage and rail fastening.

To cater for the interaction between the rail and the track structure, low toe load and/or zero longitudinal restraint (ZLR) fastening options are available. The coil springs and baseplate pad absorb most of the vertical deflections and also play a part in countering the effects of end rotation where simply supported beams form part of the viaduct structure. Vertical and lateral adjustment is provided for construction/maintenance requirements. Vertical adjustment typically up to 20 mm and lateral adjustment through lockable eccentric bushes (± 3 mm per rail and ± 2 mm by differential side post insulators) total ± 5 mm per rail.

Pandrol’s DRS system is popular with contractors as it enables quick and simple installation. The system is installed on cast in-situ concrete plinths. The assembled baseplates are hung from the rail and the concrete can then be installed straight up to the bottom surface of the baseplate, in one operation.

Special construction boltholders supplied to the contractor by Pandrol allow the anchor bolts to be very accurately installed. This enabled very rapid preparation and construction time for the installation contractor. Pandrol has been supplying resilient fastening systems for non-ballasted tracks for more than 40 years, from the early Shinkansen tracks in Japan to the more recent South Korean and Chinese high-speed systems.

The Pandrol DRS assembly is well suited to high speed applications installed on pre-cast blocks, sleepers or slab. Pandrol has provided both technical product support and training for contractors on the installation of the DRS system. The MRTA projects are a great example of collaborative working to achieve the best possible solution for the customer. Pandrol DRS has also been specified for the Orange Line East, for which construction has not yet started.