Improvements in railway switches

This article deals with the reason for the impact on the axles of a railway vehicle on a straight switch rail when crossing the deflecting device of a main track turnout. This phenomenon has been studied by means of the development of a dynamic model, whose theoretical basis is also explained. The dynamic model allows the axle movement on crossing the deflecting device to be represented and provides extremely interesting data relating to speed, acceleration and guiding forces. Finally, the article describes two types of deflecting device modifications (the FAKOP and the CATFERSAN) that will result in improved movement across the deflecting device. A proposal is made for the modification of the geometry of the straight stock rail, known as CATFERSAN, which prevents the phenomenon described above. This modification can be easily incorporated into both new deflecting device designs and those already in use on the tracks, causing them to be inoperative during a short period of time.