GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

Minutes

of

10th Extra-ordinary Meeting(On-line)

of
Track Standards Committee

22thJUNE, 2021

RESEARCH DESIGNS & STANDARDSORGANISATION

LUCKNOW – 226011
 INTRODUCTION

1. The 10th Extra-ordinary Meeting (On-Line) of Track Standards Committee was held
on 22th June 2021. The committee constituted of Director General/IRICEN/Pune
(Chairman), PED/Track/RDSO (Member Secretary), PED/TMM/RDSO,
PED/GE/RDSO, and Chief Track Engineers of all Sixteen Zonal Railways.
Apart from members of committee, officers from Railway Board also attended the
meeting as observers.
Shri A.K.Singhal, PED/CE(P), Shri T. K Pandey, ED/TK (M&Mc), and Sri. P.Nagar,
DCE(P) from Railway Board attended the meeting. Shri Sanjeev Mittal, Member
(Infrastructure) and Shri Rajesh Argal, Additional Member/ Civil Engineering
addressed the meeting.
1.1 Shri S.K.Jain, Member Secretary/TSC & PED/Track/RDSO, during introductory
address, expressed that the agenda items, proposed to be deliberated during
the course of meeting are very technical in nature and require detailed
deliberations. These items will help in finding solution to the problem being
faced in the field and in standardization of some important items related to track
structure and maintenance. The brief of some of the important items to be
discussed during the course of meeting was also highlighted by him.
1.2 AMCE has emphasized on the following:
i. In the present scenario of shortage of funds, it is important that we critically
review the requirement of track renewal. This would be possible if track
renewal is made condition based. Although it appears to be simple, we have
to lay down the limits and norms of technical parameters for condition based
renewal. Also, for switching over to condition based renewal, sanction of
umbrella work becomes important such that required track renewal is not
delayed, adversally affecting the condition of track.
ii. Process of approval of new technology needs to be expedited without
compromising on quality of evaluation. Zonal Railways which are assigned
for carrying out trial should take it seriously and submit their report in time so
that the decision for implementation of new technology or new component/
new machines can be taken timely.
1.3 Member (Infrastructure)has emphasized on the following:
i. Track Standard Committee has a vital role in providing upgradation of
track technology, increase in speed potential, adoption of new track
components and addressing of various field problems faced by zonal
railway officials.
1
 ii. In the present situation where speed of trains as well as axle load are
increasing, track maintenance standards need to be improved. Standard of
track structure needs to be decided keeping in view the traffic scenario.
iii. On high speed routes of 130/ 160 kmph, advance technological substitute
of manual patrolling needs to be inducted, considering safety of railway
personnel and shortage of man power.
iv. Rail grinding has already been introduced on IR and it has been found to be
very useful. Proliferation of rail grinding, combined with rail lubrication and
proper rail handling would be very important for performance of rail.
v. With the improvement in technology, review is required for the norms of
inspection and maintenance of track. Service life of track components
needs to be rationalized, considering the modernisation of track structure.
1.4 The meeting of the committee was structured in two technical sessions, during
which 08 new items, 05 old items carried forward from 88th TSC and 2 informal
items were deliberated upon. Detailed technical discussions on each of the
items were held during deliberations and committee’s recommendations were
finalized and recorded. All new items and two new Informal items are listed
under Index-I. The items carried forward from previous meeting of TSC have
been listed under Index – II.
2. The committee specially acknowledges the assistance rendered by following
officers from RDSO for their valuable contribution during the meeting of the
Committee:
(i) Shri Nilmani, Executive Director Standards Track-I
(ii) Shri Pradip Kumar, Executive Director Standards Track-II
(iii) Shri A.M.Rizvi, Executive Director Standards Track-III
(iv) Shri Alok Kumar, Director/Track-I
(v) Shri Jitendra Kumar Singh, Director/Track-II
(vi) Shri Ritu Raj, Director/Track-III
(vii) Shri Rahul Shah, Director/Track-IV
(viii) Shri Ranjeet Kumar, Director/Track-V
(ix) Shri SachinVerma, Director/Track-VI

3. The minutes of the meeting are enclosed.

2
 INDEX- I

LIST OF NEW AGENDA ITEMS

SN Item No. Brief description of item Page
No
1 1363 Implementation of Trolley Inspection under Block Protection 6
2 1364 Curve parameters, transition length and speed on curves 8
3 1365 Modification in design of RDSO’s Drg. No. RDSO/T-8527 11
Alteration-3 of 21.08.2018 (Wider sleeper) to suit for 60 kg rails
without combination liners and 52kg with combination liners.
4 1366 Use of SEJ Sleeper at Glued Insulated Rail Joints 12

5 1367 Additional Policy Instructions on USFD Testing of Rail & Welds 13

was issued vide Correction Slip No. 04(Sept’2018)
6 1368 Construction of Washable Aprons at busy yards 15
7 1369 Modern Fastening System 16
8 1370 Cant gradient on turnout- Revision of Para 410 of 17
IRPWM,June’2020
9 Informal-1 Review of Track Maintenance norms. 18
10 Informal-2 Implementation of Rail Fracture Detection System 34

3
 INDEX- II

LIST OF ITEMS CARRIED OVER FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS

SN Item no Brief description of item Page

in 88th No
TSC
1 1355 Detection of Bolt hole crack by 0o Probe. 37
2 1362/18 Removal of Check rail provided in Improved SEJ with 80 mm 39
gap
3 1362/28 Increasing speed after Deep screening 40
4 1362/34 Stipulated life for thick web switch 60 Kg 41
5 1362/39 Problem related to Thick web switches 42

4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42