08-12-2016, 12:26 PM
(08-07-2016, 01:10 AM)danbrotherston Wrote: Also, I assume that was a repair/refurbishment of the previous track, do you know what exactly wears out about the track? Is it the profile of the metal track? The concrete its embedded in? Or was it just the switches? I assume we will eventually have to do similar work on our tracks, but how long do they typically last?
Likely a combination of all of the above. Materials don't last forever. Vehicle wheels wear out due to friction (just as car tires are replaced). Tracks wear out due to the same friction, particularly on corners. Add in a mixture of freeze-thaw cycles, water and road salt and it needs to be replaced.
The Ion agreement includes a refurbishment at the end of the agreement so we'll inherit a slightly used system as opposed to either a brand new system or a worn out system.