Instrumented Rail Clamp System Requirements. Wales & Western Region

The purpose of this document is to set out the system and user requirements for a Instrumented Rail Clamp.

Rail clamps have been widely used in the UK rail network to join unwelded sections of rail for many decades. The purpose of the rail clamp is to temporarily provide a robust joint between two sections of rail, until it is possible to weld the rail sections together. Whilst a rail clamp is in place, it is required to be monitored at 24-hour intervals to ensure the integrity and safety of the joint. The inspection specifically requires assurance that the joint deflection, rail to rail gap and clamping force has not exceeded the limits set in Network Rail track standards.

The aim of this specification is to deliver a system that meets all standards relating to rail clamps and track mounted components which also can be maintenance free. It must deliver a safe and secure clamped rail joint.

If applicable the solution can be integrated into an already product approved clamp. It must be able to reliably transmit data that can be used to aid the application of understanding the condition of the joint, to remove the requirement of physical/manual inspection of the temporary clamp.