Steel tracks and Rubber Tracks: Modern Transportation Methods are Evolving

 

Steel tracks and Rubber Tracks have been the Mainstay

For over a century Steel tracks and Rubber Tracks have formed the primary infrastructure for transportation of passengers and freight by rail. The industrial revolution of the late 18th century ushered in a new era where steel could be produced on a mass scale, enabling large scale construction of railway networks across nations. Steel provided the ideal material for laying durable tracks that could carry heavy locomotives and carriages at speed. Its high strength-to-weight ratio meant tracks made of steel were robust enough to withstand the repetitive pounding from wheels, while being lightweight enough to be constructed over long distances relatively easily.

For much of the 19th and 20th centuries, the railway system helped drive economic development and acted as a vital supply chain for the movement of commodities. At their peak in the mid-20th century, countries around the world had extensive railway networks moving both people and freight rapidly between cities. Steel ruled supreme as the material of choice for tracks in this period, with advances in metallurgy further enhancing the quality and longevity of rails. Even today, steel tracks continue to be the predominant surface for conventional rail transport globally, though newer innovations are gradually emerging.

Steel tracks and Rubber Track Gain Popularity for Specific Applications

While steel tracks have proven versatile for general railway applications, rubber tracks have begun making inroads in niche areas that can better leverage their distinctive properties. Made from compounds of rubber reinforced with fabric or steel cords, rubber tracks offer certain operational advantages over steel. To start with, they generate less noise and vibrations during use due to their shock-absorbing nature. This makes them suitable for use in urban or environmentally sensitive areas where noise pollution needs to be minimized.

Rubber tracks are also more durable and sustainable in the long run. Being made of rubber, they require little to no maintenance and last much longer than steel rails which are prone to wear and tear. This reduces lifetime operating costs. Their non-slip qualities prove beneficial for inclination applications, enabling stable movement on inclined planes and mine carriages. Use of rubber tracks eliminates the need for expensive mechanisms like cog wheels to tackle inclines. They function effectively even on loose or uneven ballastless tracks, bearing heavier weight transfers better than conventional steel rails.

Applications Range from Transport to Infrastructure Construction

Given their technical advantages, rubber tracks have found increasing applications from transportation to infrastructure projects over the past few decades. In urban mass transit, they are commonly used for tram and light metro systems running on city streets and in sensitive downtown areas. Systems in cities like Bordeaux, Rouen and Zurich rely on rubber tracks to deliver vibration-free and silent operations. On construction sites, they equip temporary track systems, mobile cranes and infrastructure raising machines. Here the non-slip characteristics and shock-absorbing nature of rubber boost productivity by enabling smoother movement even on unstable surfaces.

Rubber tracks are especially suitable for mining environments where vibration control and traction over rough inclines are important. Most mining locomotives, engineering vehicles, load-haul-dump machines and personnel carriers use rubber tracks for higher performance in tough ground conditions. Various ports also use movable rubber tracked vehicles for loading-unloading containers efficiently. With rubber, track movement can happen seamlessly across different surfaces on port yards. As modern construction techniques involve heavier machinery, rubber tracks ensure stability during critical operations. Their penetration into new domains continues as advancement opens up newer applications harnessing rubber's mechanical advantages suiting specific needs.

Future Remains Bright but Steel still Holds Sway

While Steel tracks and Rubber Tracks have found success in niche segments, steel remains the primary choice for large scale railway infrastructure worldwide. Several factors still favor steel tracks for conventional rail systems. Steel offers higher strength and dimensional stability for withstanding loads from heavy faster trains without issues over decades of use. Its material properties are also well understood, enabling designers to optimize track layouts precisely. Mass production of steel further keeps initial costs lower than alternatively produced rubber tracks. Standardization facilitated by steel tracks also permits unified maintenance practices across networks.

Nevertheless, technological evolution is gradually expanding rubber tracks' domains of operation. Their ability to handle heavier loads and higher speeds will broaden rubber's scope. Newer rubber composites with fillers promise better strength-lifetime balance. In the future, as more automated condition monitoring helps plan preventive maintenance, operating cost benefits of rubber may outweigh initial higher costs for certain dedicated rapid transit lines. With further improvements, rubber tracks could start replacing steel for certain commuter networks too. Overall, while steel forms the bulwark of rail infrastructure globally, rubber tracks have a bright future as a niche complement harnessing vibrational and environmental sustainability advantages in strategic applications. Both materials will continue powering modern transport systems in tandem.

 

About Author:

Ravina Pandya, Content Writer, has a strong foothold in the market research industry. She specializes in writing well-researched articles from different industries, including food and beverages, information and technology, healthcare, chemical and materials, etc

 *Note:

1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information it