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TRAM Power Ltd

A British Company

INFRASTRUCTURE

As well as the light rail technology incorporated in the City Class Tram we have also developed unique technology for light rail infrastructure, which can significantly reduce the cost and lead time of implementing Light Rail schemes.

LR55 track system

There is a power point presentation on this technology here which includes pictures and diagrams.

We have registered international patents for this technology.

Description:
The LR55 rail track system uses:
(a) a top suspended rail, bonded into
(b) precast concrete foundation troughs,
(c) laid on a compacted type one highway base (CBR > 10%).
(d) bonded into existing pavement with grouting

Installed in Highway Pavement
(1) Reprofile pavement, road crown, crossfall etc.
(2) Excavate trench ( 200mm deep & 400mm wide) for troughs
(3) Lay, compact and line bedding layer (CBR > 10%)
(4) Lay foundation troughs (to 5mm tolerance) *
(5) Hairpin join troughs longitudinally
(6) Seal troughs into highway pavement
(7) Position welded rails to line, level and gauge in troughs (0.1mm tolerence)
( 8) Inject elastomeric bonding grout to fix rails into troughs
(9) LR55 tracks can be laid one rail at a time in narrow roads
* trough design franchised to local manufacturer

Advantages of LR55
(1) Low pressures into bedding layer(< 200 MPa)
(2) Rapid installation ( > 100m per 8 hr. possession)
(3) Minimum relocation of utility plant under street tracks
(4) Full traffic compatability (rail and road vehicles)
(5) Low stray currents (resistivity > 1000 ž km)
(6) Less noise and vibration (<20Hz ~30dB, >100Hz ~50dB,nat.freq ~800Hz)
(7) Compatable with utility (maintenance) access during operating hours
(8) Transition rail available to all existing profiles
(9) 25m radius turnout design available in LR55 profile
(10) Curves down to 12m radius
(11) Cost 60 - 70% of girder rail based tracks

Non destructive Laboratory testing:
- Up to 80 tonne axle loads
- 120 million cycles endurance
- Half cyclic tests under water (no failures)
- Temperature -20oC to + 60oC range
- Foundation trough base - compacted sand

Destructive Laboratory:
- 1 m void bridged - failure at 59 tonne axle load. (trough failed in tension)
- Rail pull out - 1m section 35kN required. (trough failed in tension)

Field:
- Rotherham Bus Station. 1993-1996 2.5 million axles up to 13.5 tonnes (no failure)

- South Yorkshire Supertramway 1996 - present (no failure)
3 million tonnes pa. of trams at 80 km/hr & 1million tonnes of HGVs. pa. Installation with HMRI approval

TRAM Power Ltd
Registered office:
99 Stanley Road
Bootle
Merseyside
L20 7DA