Sleeper pads for the world’s largest rail vibration protection project

Getzner Werkstoffe supplies padded railway sleepers for Berlin-Cottbus line

27.01.11

Bürs/Berlin. Austrian vibration insulation specialist Getzner Werkstoffe has been commission to provide vibration protection solutions for the upgrade of the Berlin-Cottbus rail link. The company is supplying sleeper pads featuring a specially designed polyurethane layer for this major Deutsche Bahn project. Upon completion, this track section will be able to handle speeds of up to 160 km/h without generating additional vibrations.

Deutsche Bahn (DB) is currently involved in an extensive upgrade of the Berlin-Cottbus rail link. After completion of the project, the maximum speeds handled by the track will increase from the present 120 km/h to 160 km/h. Work has already finished on the southern section of the line, and the central section is now also undergoing the required improvements. To reduce the structure-borne noise of trains passing through built-up areas adjacent to the tracks, Getzner is installing elastic polyurethane pads under the sleepers. This provides nearby buildings with effective protection against vibrations despite the higher train speeds. The order for this large-scale project is worth a total of EUR 1.85 million.

Effective vibration protection for neighbouring developments

Over 60 km of track superstructure between Königs Wusterhausen and Lübbenau will be completely renewed. Getzner Werkstoffe was contracted to supply elastic pads to provide vibration protection for the new sleepers. After completion, trains will cover this stretch of track at speeds of up to 160 km/h without any additional loads caused by vibrations. "The Berlin-Cottbus line is currently the largest railway vibration protection project to be implemented anywhere in the world. In all, nearly 50,000 sleepers and 17 switches will be fitted with sleeper pads made from our materials" says Christian Dullinger, project manager for railway solutions at Getzner's Grünwald site near Munich.

Specially developed products

The new sleeper pads from Getzner Werkstoffe were developed as part of the LZARG project, which aims to devise new technologies for quieter rail traffic. Getzner has implemented series production of the new sleeper pads, which are tailored to requirements of the DB project. "We carried out a series of rigorous tests in a very short time. The new solution was then approved by DB Technik, and we are now putting this well-engineered and highly resilient product into service," says Mr Dullinger of the extensive preparations for this major project. "Achieving this milestone was only possible thanks to the strong commitment and outstanding teamwork of the people involved," he adds. The pads are applied to the sleepers at the plant of the manufacturer for this project, Rail.One. The finished products are then delivered directly to the construction site.

Facts and figures: Berlin-Cottbus line