PRACTICAL PERFORMANCE OF THE TRACK SYSTEM WITH ASPHALT TREATING METHOD

Maintenance required on conventional track/ballast structures has caused Japanese National Railways to investigate ways to preserve track geometry and minimize ballast degradation. The Track System with Asphalt Treating Method was developed to be applied with a minimum of out-of-service time for the track and to prevent track subsidence while also stabilizing ballast. Asphalt is forced into the ballast beneath the ties and the ballast shoulders are paved. A slab tie must be used--these-called Large Prestressed Concrete (LPC) Slab Ties. Tests indicate stability does not decrease in the long term.