Railway Construction Techniques
Resurfacing
The vertical and horizontal geometry of ballasted track deteriorates over time, requiring corrective tamping and lining. MVM Rail has specialised equipment as well as trained and experienced operators to provide ballasted track tamping and lining services. In addition, the company’s large range of gauge-convertible equipment can accommodate Australia’s various track gauges.
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Fairmont MK iii Tamper (TM 8005)
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Welding
The elimination of rail joint gaps allows operators to reduce maintenance costs and improve safety, providing passengers with a smoother ride. There are various onsite and in-depot welding methods that can eliminate rail joint gaps and MVM Rail provide two techniques which are considered particularly effective; Aluminothermic and Flash-Butt Welding (both on track and fixed facility).
Aluminothermic Welding
This is preformed on site using a disposal crucible and involves welding using liquid metal produced when iron oxides are reduced by burning aluminium. A refractory crucible mould is then placed around the joint before a specially designed aluminothermic portion fills the rail gap with the liquid metal. The final rail profile is then ground to exacting tolerances through weld shearing and rail profile grinding.
Flash-Butt Welding
This a fast efficient high quality pressure welding process where rail ends are heated by a high low voltage current before being forged together and sheared to match the rail profile. This process is used on site and in depots to produce long welded rail. MVM Rail has several mobile flash-butt welders.
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Mobile Flash-Butt Welders
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Ballast Cleaning
Various types of high and low production ballast cleaning equipment (undercutting) is used for the cleaning or replacement of ballast as necessary in order to improve the quality, drainage and safety of railway lines. To compliment this equipment MVM Rail can provide auxiliary wagons, both side and bottom dumping, to remove contaminated ballast from site avoiding dumping waste ballast in the vicinity of the track. These systems are also used in areas where access is difficult, such as tunnels and viaducts.
