08-13-2016, 03:10 PM
(08-13-2016, 07:35 AM)Canard Wrote:(08-13-2016, 06:53 AM)ijmorlan Wrote: However, I’m not too worried. Even if all the track was worthless, and the OCS in bad shape, re-creating all of that would cost a small fraction of what is being spent now. There would be no utility moves, no tree removal, no property acquisition, no road re-routing, and so on: just re-build the actual track structure itself, and replace the overhead.
That's kind of a big deal - that's the part that I was worried about. Over half of our system is embedded track - jackhammering out all that concrete to get the rails and temporary track ties out will be a massive job. But, if there's a refurbishment clause in the Project Agreement, we're all good!
Definitely a big job. I’m not sure if you know this, but Toronto’s current streetcar construction technique is quite different, involving three layers of concrete. The first is just a concrete slab. Then a concrete slab with Pandrol clips embedded in it. Then the tracks are installed and embedded within a third layer of concrete. Routine rail replacement can be done by jackhammering only the top layer, replacing the tracks, and pouring a new top layer.
One important difference however is the rubber boot all the way around the rail in our system. I’m hopeful that will make a big difference in longevity.