Research aims to keep Crossrail trains running for 200m passengers a year

Up to 200m passengers a year could enjoy smooth journeys on London’s new Crossrail thanks to vital university research.

The work, led by Paul Allen at the University of Huddersfield’s Institute of Railway Research, aims to minimise disruption when the £14.8bn project – now known as the Elizabeth Line – opens to passengers in December.

Working with the Crossrail team for 10 years, the institute first carried out research into the cant of the line – the height of one rail above another in a curved track. By carefully reducing the cant, engineers can share force more evenly between a train’s many axles. This reduces the risk of rolling contact fatigue in rails, which accounts for a significant proportion of Network Rail’s annual maintenance budget.

“The reason this was a major issue is that the typical curve radius on the Elizabeth Line route is about 500m, where it might be about 1,000m or 1,500m on a typical main line,” said Allen.

Working with colleague Philip Shackleton, Allen also developed a maintenance planning tool for the line, capable of simulating a wide variety of scenarios to identify the best maintenance strategy. The team also investigated the use of premium rail steels, studied vehicle dynamics and analysed where flange lubrication will be most required.

The research aimed to keep parts working for as long as possible, minimise maintenance costs, and ensure safety and reliable operation of the tracks.