Rail prepares for high temperatures with heat plan

Infrabel’s traffic coordination center transmits weather reports to colleagues in the field several times a day, so that they can guarantee the safety of the rail network. Due to the current high temperatures, it can be up to 20°C warmer in the spores.

Track Distortion

The rails, the ballast (the pebbles under and between the tracks) and the concrete sleepers store this heat. But tracks in Belgium are adjusted to a temperature of 25 degrees. Brutal temperature fluctuations can cause the tracks to deform – and in extreme cases to sway – which means that trains can no longer run safely. Fortunately, this is rather exceptional, Infrabel assures. The sleepers absorb most of the forces when a track expands due to the heat.

Danger of short circuit

For safety reasons, Infrabel sends maintenance teams to check the tracks. In addition, high temperatures can also cause problems on the sensors (so-called track circuits, axle counters and pedals) in the track, which detect the position of a train. But with this weather there is also a chance of difficulties for the overhead lines, which creates a risk of short circuit.

To guarantee safety, Infrabel launched the heat plan with a series of preventive measures. This includes control of the tracks, switches, catenaries, air conditioning of electrical installations and data centers, and identification of fire-sensitive railway verges.