Traction enhancement (Rail Technologies)

Adhesion between vehicle wheels and rail is dictated by top of rail surface conditions and contamination. Our Traction Gel Applicator (TGA3) distributes traction enhancing material called ALLEVIATE® directly to the position on the rail where it is required.

ALLEVIATE®

ALLEVIATE® traction enhancing material combats seasonal and all year round adhesion issues, including leaf fall and wet rail phenomenon.
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TGA

Our Traction Gel Applicator (TGA) applies traction enhancing materials directly to the top of running rails at locations where there is...
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Rail Technologies solutions by L.B. Foster

Posted by Tony McEwen
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Where you have an issue of low adhesion, such as leaves on the line, it results in braking and traction problems. This leads to potential signal failures caused by loss of track circuit detection, as well as station overruns and insufficient traction on inclines and declines.

Our team of friction management experts has developed ALLEVIATE®, a unique, traction enhancing material that combats both seasonal and all year round adhesion issues. In the autumn, loss of traction from seasonal leaf fall creates a slippery surface on running rails. But also throughout the year there are certain areas of track where traction is an issue; for example, wet rail phenomenon or where vehicles have to travel up inclines/declines. Both these adhesion issues can result in train delays, operational disruption and wheel damage.

Our new formula ALLEVIATE® has been scientifically developed in partnership with The University of Sheffield for use in the L.B. Foster Rail Technologies’ TGA3, as well as other systems such as Multi-Purpose Vehicles (MPVs).

TGA’s are normally sited where vehicles require good levels of adhesion:

Changes in speed
Stations
Signals
Inclines/Declines
Cold temperatures
Leaf fall