Extreme Conditions for Railway Tracks
Railway tracks are exposed to severe environmental conditions on a daily basis. Intense solar radiation, rain, moisture, wind and frost place continuous stress on rails and promote corrosion and material fatigue.
Especially on hot summer days, rail surfaces can reach temperatures well above 50 °C. As steel responds to temperature changes through expansion and subsequent contraction, significant stresses develop within the track. On heavily sun-exposed routes, bridges and high-speed rail lines, these stresses can, in extreme cases, lead to track buckling and thereby compromise operational safety.
Rising rail temperatures often make precautionary speed restrictions necessary. This can result in delays, reduced route capacity, increased maintenance requirements and additional costs for infrastructure operators.
With the growing effects of climate change and rising average temperatures, effective temperature management of railway infrastructure is therefore becoming increasingly important.
The Solution: IndustrySpecial Railways by ClimateCoating®
IndustrySpecial Railways is a high-performance rail coating developed specifically for the long-term protection of railway tracks and modern rail infrastructure. The coating combines effective heat protection with reliable corrosion protection and helps to enhance operational safety while reducing maintenance and upkeep costs.
Thanks to its Reflective Membrane Technology, the coating reduces the thermal heating of rail surfaces under intense solar radiation. Field measurements have demonstrated a reduction in rail temperatures of up to 24.7 °C. This helps to reduce the risk of critical rail temperatures, temperature-related stresses and potential operational restrictions.
In addition to heat protection, IndustrySpecial Railways provides reliable corrosion protection for rails. The coating effectively protects steel surfaces against moisture and weathering. Even four years after application, no signs of corrosion were detected on the coated rails, while uncoated areas already showed significant rust formation.
The combination of heat protection for railway tracks, corrosion protection, temperature reduction and long-term protection of railway infrastructure makes IndustrySpecial Railways an economical solution for railway lines, bridges, high-speed rail routes and other heavily stressed rail infrastructure.
