5 Track for the next decade—the mixed traffic railway

SYNOPSIS. British Railways operates a mixed traffic railway with Passenger Trains running at 125 mph and Freight Trains of 25T axle weight at 60 mph. The present policies and practices of the Civil Engineering Department for maintenance and renewal of track are discussed. Developments of materials and methods proposed in the next few years to meet the requirements of the Business Sectors are outlined.

1. The origins of railways were in freight transport but they rapidly developed to carry passengers and so became mixed railways. Most systems since those early days have carried passengers and freight in various proportions although a number have retained their specialisation. In recent times new specialised railways have been built, and earlier Papers to this Conference have dealt with them.