An innovative slab track test-line in China

This paper presents the innovative slab track technology that was implemented in 2004 by the Chinese Ministry of Railways (MOR). The railway test-line Suiyu was decided to carry out, on which innovative slab track technology would be applied. With a total length of 13.157 km, the new line stands in southwest of China, which is one part of the eight planned passenger dedicated lines (PDL) in China. It is expected to be loaded annually with 20 million tonne freight transportation and daily with 90 passenger train-couples. Its design speed amounts to 200 km/h for passenger trains and 120 km/h for freight trains, which is the first railway line built with such speed in southwest of China. Six slab track types have been installed on the test-line as a trial, which are introduced in details in this paper, such as reinforced concrete slab with lattice two-block sleepers or with pre-stressed monolithic sleepers, coupled or uncoupled prefabricated slabs-superstructure etc. Turnouts have been laid with embedded, monolithic sleepers for the first time. Special measures were applied for transition zones. Comprehensive measurements in respect of their qualities have been carried out, meanwhile train experiment has also implemented to test every component of slab track as well as substructure.