1. Railways Research Foundation RAILWAYS EXPERTISE CENTER
RAILWAY TECHNOLOGIES
Technical Innovations for High Speed Infrastructures
Research and Technical Development Projects

2. ARTIFICIAL BALLAST Track component; new materials
Technological innovation fields
Track component; new materials
Short description
It´s a new material, industrially manufactured, that combines the advantages of the granular ballast (adaptability to trackway, able to be tamped, …) with the features of an artificial product (features according to design, quality control, …) for the trackbed.
Fields of application
Railway trackbed for high performance, low maintenance needs or extreme conditions lines
Current development status
Initial research completed ( , Spanish National R&D Program)
Next stages and opportunities
Research and technical development
Prototype detailed design, manufacturing and pilot installation

3. HIGH SPEED VIADUCTS HEALTH MONITORING
Technological innovation fields
Intelligent infrastructures; high speed viaducts behavior; high performance structures monitoring
Short description
Centralized monitoring system for the long term high speed viaducts behavior setter understanding and control, autodiagnosys and optimized maintenance programing and management
Fields of application
Railway bridges and viaducts efficient maintenance; infrastructure asset management;
High speed structures optimized design
Current development status
Initial research completed ( , "Viadintel" Spanish National R&D Program)
Final research and prototype development ( , "Viadintegra" Spanish National R&D Program)
Next stages and opportunities
Final prototype improvement and adjustments
Pilot application program

4. OPTIMUM SPEED. HIGH SPEED SYSTEM OPERATION
Technological innovation fields
High speed system operational features; operational speed simulation and models; technological prospective
Short description
Theoretical approach to the optimum speed of the high speed as a system according to the technological capabilities and social requirements and simulations and models to determine optimum operational speed for real lines
Fields of application
High speed lines planning and design; high speed networks operation
Current development status
Initial research completed ( , UIC, International Railway Association)
Very high speed. Very long distance. Research study ( , UIC, International Railway Association)
Next stages and opportunities
Results and new models application

5. TRACKWAY STIFFNESS AND LONG TERM PERFORMANCE
Technological innovation fields
Railway infrastructure behavior; track and grade advanced models
Short description
Keeping an accurate leveling of the rails is a critical main requirement for an efficient high speed line operation and maintenance. In this phenomenon the subgrade and the track are directly involved in an integrated manner. Methodology based on advanced models is developed to describe, analyze and better understanding the behavior and influence of the subgrade in the long term evolution as the track support
Fields of application
New high performance railway design; railway infrastructure efficient maintenance
Current development status
Concept layout and first research completed ( , FCH Research Program)
Next stages and opportunities
Advanced model development; application criteria definition

6. HIGH SPEED RAILWAY VIADUCTS TRACK – DECK INTERACTION
Technological innovation fields
Integrated system behavior; technical interfaces optimization
Short description
Methodology and calculation models to optimize the high speed type selection based on a proper and integrated track-structure performance and an accurated and efficient structure design
Fields of application
High speed railway bridges and viaducts types optimized selection;
High speed structures optimized design; track design
Current development status
Methodology and usual typologies models available ( FCH Research Program)
Next stages and opportunities
Complex viaduct models development
Methodology application

7. INCREMENTAL AND HIGH SPEED STRUCTURES. DYNAMIC VALIDATION SYSTEM
Technological innovation fields
High speed structures dynamic behavior; viaduct dynamic advanced models
Short description
Methodology and equipment to accurately assess the dynamic performance of railway structures: technical dynamic validation of new high speed bridges and viaducts, testing current structures to increase operational speeds and long term bridges and viaducts maintenance
Fields of application
High speed bridges and viaducts optimized design and validation
Incremental speed lines structures assessment
and improvement
Railway bridges and viaducts efficient maintenance
Current development status
Concept layout completed ( , FCH Innovation Program)
Technical and economical feasibility study in progress
Next stages and opportunities
Models completion, hardware prototype design, implementation and calibration

8. DESIGN TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
VERY HIGH SPEED LINES.
DESIGN TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
Technological innovation fields
Trackway, structures and track components new requirements for very high speed lines
Short description
Set of technical requirements and methodologies oriented to design new railway infrastructures for very high speed long term operation
Fields of application
New high speed infrastructures design
Current development status
Initial research layout completed ( Adif , new high speed lines design)
Next stages and opportunities
Independent components special design requirements definition and application