Railway Engineering

6th semester

Introduction to Railway Engineering

(Lecture # 1)
Subject : Railway Engineering

Department of Transportation Engineering and Management,

UET Lahore.

What is railway?
“A railway can be defined as an engineered structure consisting of two metals
guiding rail on which cars are either self propelled or pulled by a locomotive.”

What is railway engineering?

“Branch of Transportation Engineering involved in the planning, design,
construction, operation and maintenance of railway land facilities used for the
movement of people and goods serving the social and economic needs of
contemporary society and its successors.”

Why Railways are built?

There could be several reasons, some might be:

• Military Purpose (strategic conditions)

C
______ ACB (Existing Line)
• Linking of trade centres
-------- AC’B (Proposed shortened
• Connecting port with interior of country
line)
• Shortening existingAroute B
C
’

• Laying of a Branch Line D

______ ACB (Main Line)

-------- ACD (Proposed Branch

A B
Line)
C
Railway Engineering
6th semester

Place of Railways in Society

At one point in time, railroads were most important (In terms of usage) part of
transportation system, because they were the
only ones which made the mass movement of

A commodity is a
people and goods possible. Today railway

good which is:

industry is famous for its use in transport of
freight.

ell it
produce/s
that
companies
between
quality
uniform in
companies
different
many
sold by
and/or
produced
usually
Because of their higher weights and increased
volumes, bulk products like coal, iron ore,
wheat, building material, etc. railways as the
mode of their transportation is desirable as
compared to other modes.
A commuter is a person who
makes the journey from
Comparison Among Modes (Freight home to work and back every
working day using some form
Transport)
of transportation system

Motor Truck: Rapid movement of freight over short

distances and flexibility of movement in urban areas.

Airlines: Rapid service for passengers, mail and small shipments of lightweight,
valuable commodities where speed is a controlling factor

Waterways: Bulk freight is transported at low cost but slow speed.

Pipelines: Direct, low cost and dependable movement of petroleum and gas.

Railroads: Provide rapid, economical and dependable movement for all types of
commodities especially bulk freight. Mass commutation is also possible through
railways (interchangeably called as railroads)

Right of Way
“A railway right of way, abbreviated as ROW or R/W, is the land upon which the
roadbed and other necessary facilities are constructed.”

On single track railways, the width of R/W is usually measured at right angles to the
centre line of track and from the centerline to the edge of the railway’s property, a
boundary known as right of way line. On a multiple track railway,
PAK-
the centre line of the R/W may coincide with the centerline of one of
WATCH
the tracks or it may come midway between the tracks.
R/W is usually
100’ in
Pakistan
Railway Engineering
6th semester

Width of Right of Way

Common widths are 50’, 60’, 80’, 100’, 200’, or even 400’. Within station limits the
width is increased to incorporate necessary structures, facilities and tracks.

What should be considered while acquiring Right of Way?

1. Depths of cuts and fills

2. Slopes

3. Side ditches

4. Erosive action of wind and water, etc.

5. Future double tracking

6. Price of land, as the land value increases after construction of railway facility.
Increasing or acquiring R/W afterwards could be more costly.