Brussels Tram, Belgium

Customer Challenge

The Brussels tram system is the 16th largest in the world. It covers a total route length of 141km and carries more than 123 million passengers annually on a fleet of 396 vehicles. The Brussels Transport Company (MIVB/STIB) is responsible for managing the network’s 300km of single track.

Every year a section of the network is upgraded and tested against a number of performance factors including vibration control.

Pandrol was asked to supply the materials and the technical assistance for the installation of a Floating Slab Mat (FSM) in the “Rue du Bailli”, near the centre of Brussels – a route which included 380 metres of double tramway track.

Pandrol Solution

Pandrol supplied a number of materials including a horizontal as well as a vertical elastic mat, and a special design with adapted transition stiffness on the Floating Slab Mat (FSM) perimeter.

The floating slab is a high performing vibration attenuation system based on the mass-spring principle, where the concrete slab (the mass) is elastically supported by a continuous resilient mat (the spring).

Pandrol’s slabs are made of high quality resin-bonded rubbers. The elastic properties of the mat solution are defined by – track and train design; chosen material type, defined thickness & number of layers and determined shape factor. Depending on these design parameters, Pandrol solutions can achieve a vibration attenuation up to 25 dBv with a low resonance frequency.
The advantages of a Pandrol FST installation include:

• A minimal number of components
• Supplied in rolls or sheets
• Quick and easy installation
• Compatible to special track works such as man-holes, pipes and electrics
• Free from closing joints between adjacent mats
• Wide range of stiffness available providing ground borne noise and vibrations
• Excellent mechanical and chemical properties
• Water permeable
• Low resonance frequency (~14-25 Hz)
• Durability and stability

The Result

After installation of the floating slab track, MIVB/STIB had vibration measurements performed by a specialised company. In this instance, the measurements showed excellent performance of the floating slab, resulting in a more than 20 dBV reduction at 63 Hz.