Mr. jose solorza haramain high speed railway phase 2

The superstructure:

Main problems, typical sections;

logistic of track material supply

Haramain High Speed Railway Phase 2

transport engineering and consultancy

ingeniería y consultoría de transporte

Main problems

• THE SAND is the most important problem related with the track along the high-speed line

between Mecca and Medina:

• Sandstorms and sand in suspension.

• Advance of the dunes.

• TEMPERATURE On the other hand, high temperatures do not present a problem, not cause

large temperature contrasts between summer and winter and between day-night, although the

mean ambient temperature is high.

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Consequences of sand presence

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• Can cover the route.

• Cause grind down and erosion of the

elements (electrification, communications and

signaling, ...)

• Contamination of the ballast (loss of

mechanical properties, decrease drainage,

deterioration of sleepers, rail, ...)



Solving the problem of sand

Preventive measures: avoid the sand reach the ballast

Corrective measures: maintenance

Active measures and design: proper track superstructure (slab track)

Objective: To reduce maintenance

Developing a plan of action and protection: studies of type of disease , quantification and

section.

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Preventive measures

The design of preventive measures should be considered on sands to the maintenance plan

(frequency of cleaning the sand accumulated).

- Optimization of the layout, as far as possible, seeking to reduce the risks (design

of horizontal and vertical alignment, depth and profile of the ballast).

- Mitigation techniques and prevention of possible movement of sand on the track: using

vegetation belts as a possible solution, surface treatments, running ditches and placement of

barriers or walls and fences.

- Design of track to prevent entry of sand (slab track systems, application of ballast protection

with foam or blankets , elevated sleepers ...).

The optimization of the route has a high efficiency and low maintenance, but requires projecting

above the implementation of the infrastructure.

Any action taken subsequently to the execution of infrastructure is a high cost of implementation.

Some mitigation techniques are equally highly effective, but at greater costs of implementation and

maintenance.

The different designs of track involving the replacement of the ballast have expensive installation,

but minor maintenance, and there is not enough experience.

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Preventive measures

Preventive measures

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Superficial treatments (chemical)

Superficial treatments (gravel)

Vegetation

Protection barriers



Preventive Measures

Preventive Measures

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Slab track system, with seat elevated rail



Embankment section in sand areas


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As techniques for mitigation or prevention of movement of sand in desert areas, the most widely

tested and effective are those based on creating belts of vegetation to protect the track and

fencing and barriers holding. Although the installation has a cost, this is not very high, offering a

good performance.

A part of the solutions that can be taken to protect the track of the sand carried by wind and its

related problems,could be very positive to leave a buffer strip on both sides (at least downwind)

of the track where the majority of the sand is stocked.

However, any option or technique requires regular maintenance to remain effective.





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There are some proposed solutions to problem areas of high-speed route between Mecca and

Media in Saudi Arabia, under infrastructure implementation phase.

Ditch design and Draa design variants



Typical track cross-section


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Ballast track cross-section





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Slab track

In principle and according to the bid submitted to the administration Arabia, the 449 km of the

Haramain High Speed Railway, provides for the execution, it is foreseen slab track sections

limited to location with enough embankment height (maximum 2.5m) and provided they meet the

quality requirements to ensure conditions required and ensure suitable mounting conditions, so

as to eliminate any impacts on the subsequent maintenance phase of the line.It is also expected

track system with embedded rail along the stations.

Currently there are no rules or formulas that define the methodology for the implementation of

slab track. Therefore, every possible location, according to the above criteria, must be a studied

based on each of the existing conditions and the slab track system to be used, due to the

significant risk posed by a possible failure infrastructure and the effects it may cause on the slab

track superstructure, and therefore on the operation of the railway line.

Another consideration that is made is the convenience to introduce slab track precisely in those

sections of track with problems with the sand, but the first premise must meet high embankment.





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Slab Track

Cross Section Slab Track System RHEDA 2000®

Proposed variant RHEDA 2000® for desert areas

Measures against rail blockade

Elevated rail seat





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Slab Track

Cross Section Slab Track VPA Type



Supply logistics

Supply logistics

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It provides for the construction of 5 mounting bases all along the

line, in order to meet the supply needs of all road materials.

In general, the fundamental condition for the location of the bases

is the availability of proper road links, as all the internal logistics is

based on road transport. Much of the supply of materials from

abroad will be made by sea to the port of Jeddah.



Supply logistics

Supply logistics

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- The path is assembled from rail sections of at least 25 m in length, which are delivered by

ship to the harbor, from where are distributed to the bases by road.

- Once on base, rails are gathered waiting for to be supplied to work sites.



Supply logistics

Supply logistics

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- The sleepers are manufactured in 2 new plants to be installed in Saudi Arabia, both equipped

with fast connections to highways between Mecca -Jeddah-Medina.

- The approximate number of sleepers for the line is around 1,525,000 units.Also be

manufactured in both plants sleepers for switches and crossings.

- The cement will come primarily from the cement Rabigh and if necessary of the existing

Yanbu.

- There will be stocks of sleepers in both factories to ensure sufficient supply to the trace at the

right time, carried by road in trucks.



Supply logistics

Supply logistics

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- In relation to the ballast will result in various quarries located along the trace and near it.The

volume of ballast provided is approximately 3,700,000 tons.

- Stockpiles will be located along the trace, transported by truck from the quarry.



Supply logistics

Supply logistics

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- The ballast is distributed along the trace from such stockpiles also by road or by rail in hopper

cars

- Positioned the sleepers and ballast the next step is the track assembly task: positioning of

the rail and assembly, welding, track successive lift with corresponding risks of ballast, and

subsequent release of tension leveling of track

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Mr. jose solorza haramain high speed railway phase 2