Description

On the railroad construction, wood rail sleeper, steel rail sleeper and concrete rail sleeper are the three most common rail sleepers. Tracing the source, rail sleeper originates from wooden sleeper. In the past 100 years, wood rail sleepers are the most widely rail sleepers in railroad, especially in heavy rail and bridge rail. With the development and technical requirements of railroad construction, rail sleepers are now made of varieties materials, such as steel, concrete and rubber.

Steel Sleeper

Steel rail sleepers are often seen as a middle ground between wood and concrete. Sturdier than wood and less expensive than pre-stressed concrete, it seemed logical that steel could prove a boon to companies looking to undertake an economical track upgrade. Indeed, in some areas steel ties are still performing adequately after 50 years of service. A lesser reliance on ballast (approximately 60% less than required for concrete; 45% less than wood) also seems to tip the scale in steel’s favors, especially in areas where timber is scarce.

• Longer lifespan (30-40 years)
• Ensure the smooth of railway transportation
• Easy to maintain gauge
• Lesser damage during handling and transport
• Not susceptible to fire hazards or vermin attack
• Have good scrap value

• Corrosion prone
• Unsuitable for track circuiting areas
• Develops cracks at rail seats
• Gauge change is not possible
• Light weight (80kg) and not suitable for fast track