RR Track Design

Workshop | This workshop is completed

2360 Cherahala Blvd. Knoxville, TN 37932 United States
2nd floor meeting room
5/14/2025-5/16/2025
8:00 AM-5:00 PM EDT on Wed Th Fri
$825.00

RR Track Design

Workshop | This workshop is completed

WHAT THIS IS ABOUT

This 2½ day class addresses the design of railroad track, including horizontal and vertical alignment, cross section, turnouts and crossings, component selection, earthwork, drainage, and clearances. The design approaches highlight applicable AREMA recommendations and general industry practices. The attendee will learn how traffic characteristics and operational requirements affect design. The coverage distinguishes between high-speed, conventional, rapid transit, and light-rail systems. The course includes examples that showcase and help the student understand typical design procedures.

Download Brochure

  • Overview and introduction
    Design controls
    Track location
    Track engineering
    • Track structure
    • Loads
    • Track behavior
    • Stress analysis
    - Rail
    - Crossties/fasteners
    - Ballast
    - Subgrade
    Basic geometric design
    • Cross Section
    • Horizontal alignment
    - Curves
    - Spirals
    - Superelevation
    • Vertical alignment
    - Grades
    - Vertical curves
    Advanced geometric design
    - Turnouts and track
    crossings
    - Track junctions
    - Yard and terminal layout
    - Capacity and operational
    considerations
    Rail-highway grade crossings
    Railway structures
    Drainage
    Review and wrap-up

Dave Clarke

Dr. Clarke, formerly Director of the University of Tennessee’s Center for Transportation, brings nearly 40 years of experience encompassing a variety of railroad design, inspection, research and education activities. He has taught railway related courses including this one, to college students and professionals since 1990. Dr. Clarke is well versed in the Federal Track Safety Standards covered in this course, and is frequently engaged as an expert to assess track conditions. As a licensed civil engineer, Dr. Clarke prepares specifications and designs for railroad track construction and maintenance. He is active in railroad related committees of AREMA, ASCE and TRB