Railway Sector Fasteners: Characteristics

What are the main elements of a railway line?

The activities of the railway sector, which require the use of fasteners, are divided into two main areas:

• Construction of the means of locomotion itself;
  
  
• Construction of the infrastructure, i.e., the railway line.

Both activities are carried out following consolidated mechanisms and using suitable materials aimed at ensuring the safety and efficiency of the final results. Among the components most widely used in these works are high-strength products belonging to steel classes 8.8, 10.9, and 12.9.

Generally, the fastening items intended for the railway sector undergo treatments such as:

• White zinc plating;
  
  
• Hot-dip galvanizing;
  
  
• Geomet coating.

Such treatments are not applied to all items since not all material classes support them. The processes are therefore evaluated and carried out considering all the variables related to the production of components for railway vehicles and the construction of railway tracks.

Each activity, therefore, is characterized by its specifics. For example, the main elements of a railway line, different from those of vehicles, are:

• Railway sleeper
  
  
• Train rails Tracks
  
  
• Profiles Railway signaling
  
  
• Electrical systems Sensors, etc.

In the case of the means of locomotion themselves, the use of suitable fasteners concerns every component:

• Power unit
  
  
• Body
  
  
• Bogie
  
  
• Interiors

In these latter uses, the fasteners must meet specific characteristics to ensure rapid accessibility and maintenance, high resistance to corrosion and vibrations, as well as significant resistance to extreme thermal excursions and daily stresses.

Construction of railway tracks and trains: which bolts

The products used for the construction of both railway lines and trains are many and varied, used in numerous different applications. Among these are, for example:

• Medium hex nuts (resistance class 10);
  
  
• Hex head bolts with full thread;
  
  
• Hex head bolts with partial thread;
  
  
• Countersunk flat head screws with hexagon socket;
  
  
• Cylindrical head screws with hexagonal socket;
  
  
• Threaded rods;
  
  
• Nord Lock washers;
  
  
• Hex head screws with flange;
  
  
• Structural bolts (EN 14399);
  
  
• Threaded inserts;
  
  
• T-slot nuts (DIN 508);
  
  
• Structural rivets;

The various railway fastening items are therefore selected from time to time, based on the needs of the customer and/or those indicated by the construction management.

Characteristics and regulations of railway fasteners

Both infrastructural works and those related to means of locomotion must be carried out to ensure high-performance and safe results. In addition to choosing the correct railway fasteners, it is advisable to always turn to specialized suppliers capable of providing certified products.

Among the most requested certifications in this sector is, for example, certification 3.1, which regulates the various mandatory documentation for the manufacturer.

Companies carrying out the construction of the infrastructures can also request some guarantees from the supplying companies, such as the ISO 9001 certification, aimed at attesting to the conformity of the company's processes.

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