spårkomponenter

Spårkomponenter refers to the components that make up a railway or tram track system. They are designed to support rolling stock, guide movement, and transfer loads to the substructure while maintaining alignment and gauge.

The core components include rails, sleepers (ties), ballast, and fastening systems. Rails provide the running surface and are usually steel, sometimes continuously welded. Sleepers support rails at the correct gauge and distribute load to the ballast or foundation. Ballast consists of crushed stone that provides drainage, stability, and vibration damping. Fastenings such as clips, spikes, and bolts hold rails to sleepers and maintain gauge.

Ancillary and auxiliary components include turnout and switchgear, crossings, rail joints or welded rails, drainage systems, and ballastless track elements. Some tracks use slab track, where a concrete slab replaces ballast, offering low maintenance and different behavior in vibration and drainage. Check rails and guard rails may be used in curves or at level crossings.

Materials and variation: Materials vary by region and purpose; sleepers may be timber, reinforced concrete, or steel; rails are steel or steel alloys; ballast materials are selected for drainage and stability. Track layouts vary by gauge, loading, and service type (mainline, regional, urban tram).

Maintenance and standards: Spårkomponenter require regular inspection and maintenance, including tamping, rail grinding, lubrication, ballast cleaning, and replacement of worn components. Safety and performance are governed by national and international standards that specify dimensions, tolerances, and installation methods.