Deriving parameters for characterisation of the track quality in relation to environmental vibration

Irregularities in track geometry; like insulated joints, switches and crossings, etc. and track stiffness variations in transitions zones near bridges or culverts play a role in the dynamic forces in the wheel-rail interface of train and track. These are important sources for ground-borne vibrations. In the Netherlands the track is monitored to facilitate maintenance management using a track recording coach (TRC). Data of these TRC measuring campaigns are stored and available for stakeholders working in field of rail maintenance or railway engineering. A database was build using historical data of the TRC measurements back to 2013 together with meta data of track components such as insulated joints, switches, crossings, culverts, etc. The track geometry data (height and shift) have been post processed towards two newly designed spectral parameters, both of them were expected to correlate with ground borne vibration at a distance from the track. One characterises discontinuities, the other continuous track. The paper will show how these parameters can be used to compare track quality and quality of track components with regard to vibrations. The study analyses differences in track quality near transition zones in relation to vibration levels.