DINATRANS: Dynamic Transitions for High-Speed and Freight Railway Lines

The DINATRANS project works on developing a prototype transition zone between slab track and ballast track for high-speed freight and passenger railway lines designed to minimise material wear, loss of geometry and track quality.

Joining a stretch of ballast track to a stretch of slab track is done through transition zones. These zones are designed to minimise excess wear due to sharp changes in the vertical rigidity of the track. This sudden change causes the material under the track to wear more quickly, thus increasing maintenance costs and reducing the useful life of the infrastructure.

The aim of the DINATRANS Project is to develop a prototype transition zone to minimise these issues. Maintaining the geometry and quality of the track reduces damage due to the dynamic stresses caused by the circulation of trains, and leads to savings in track maintenance and conservation costs.

DINATRANS approaches the issue using advanced dynamic simulation models adapted to the Spanish national railway network. This requires carrying out the design, approval, implementation, verification and patenting of the elements making up the transition.

Financed as part of the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness’ INNPACTO Programme and cofinanced through ERDF funds, the project is led by Ferrovial Construction and includes ADIF, Precon, the University of Cantabria and the Centre for Innovation on Smart Infrastructures (CI3).