The UIC Track Expert Group (TEG) and the Under Ballast Mats (UBM) Working Group are proud to announce the publication of the following IRS relating to the recommendation for the use of under ballast mats:
- IRS 70719-1 – Track and Structure – Recommendations for the use of Under Ballast Mats
In 2014, the UIC UBM Group, a group of experts specialising in railway track components, started working to review and update UIC Leaflet 719-1, to include current railway knowledge and advancements. They also needed to update the acoustic and vibrations specifications, and finally adapt the leaflet to the recommendations of the EN 17282 test methods completed by CEN/TC256/SC1/WG16-5 (UBM).
The insertion of elastic layers during track construction between the rail foot and the top of the formation has received increased attention in recent years from railways struggling to reduce the costs of track maintenance and the environmental impact of operations.
A special mention goes out to the UIC UBM Working Group, the experts from TEG and UIC staff involved in the production of this new IRS, particularly Rodolphe Potvin from SNCF Reseau.
Link to the IRS: Way and Works - Track and Structure - Recommendations for the use of Under Ballast Mats (UBM) (shop-etf.com)
