Track engineering in a bridge replacement

[Catjacob]

I’m going to replace a 2 span masonry arch by a steel girder and the span of each arch is about 10m (about 33ft). The existing arches carry two railway tracks which are supported by a layer of 550mm (or 1’9”) thick and 8m (or 26’) wide ballast. Could anybody propose a program for removal and reinstatement of the ballasted track for the replacement of the railway bridge if the rails are temporarily hung by a steel truss and the rails are completely taken off and reinstated after the new steel bridge has been in place??
It would be great if the program can be split into several items:
XXam – XXam
XXam - XXpm Remove the rails and sleepers
XXpm – XXpmDig out the ballast
(The bridge is replaced)
XXpm – XXpm Reinstate the ballast
XXpm – XXpm Reinstate the rails and sleepers
XXpm - …….Restore the signalling
……
……..
Thank you very much

 

[WSRIIIPE]

This is not as easy as it sounds. Railroad bridge replacements are normally performed under traffic. If it is a high density freight or critical passenger corridor then you will have limited opportunity to take the track out of service. Therefore your design must consider construction in steps that can be performed in multiple track outages. Is there overhead electric? This further imposes constraint as the lifting equipment is limited.