A CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS THE MINIMIZATION OF THE COSTS OF THE MAINTENANCE OF THE PERMANENT WAY ON RAILWAYS

Mechanization and automation of track maintenance methods have progressed so far that it would appear difficult to achieve any further savings in terms of staff or greater efficiency in the foreseeable future. Reductions in costs are possible however if the basic conditions are established whereby track maintenance work is carried out and when it proves technically necessary. The quality of the work and its effectiveness in terms of time must be taken into account when calculating viability. Working methods will have to continue to improve and track servicing will have to be organized according to the average volume of work required per year. These measures as a whole should allow overall track maintenance costs to be reduced to a minimum.