RAILWAY SURVEY

FOR NEW LINE

RAILWAY ENGINEERING
SEAA 4853
MOHD KHAIRUL IDHAM
BIN MOHD SATAR
 Strategic Consideration

Development of Area
Need for Connect New Trade Center
Construction of
New Railway Line Shorten the Existing Route

New Branch Line

Technical & Engineering Consideration

Political Consideration
Strategic Consideration
Essential to join two points by a railway line for strategic purposes
so that in case of emergency, the army can be transferred from one
point to the other.

Development of Area
A new railway line is laid to develop an area which may be rich in
mineral resources or other natural wealth like timber resources.
Connect New Trade Center
A port is sometimes not connected with the interior of the country.
Essential to have a new railway line joining the port and the
trade center of the interior of the country.

Shorten the Existing Route

A route exists between two points. But if it is possible to shorten
the existing route, a new railway line is to be laid.
New Branch Line
Necessary sometimes to lay a branch line to an existing main line
to develop certain other cities on the proposed branch line.
The new branch line will serve as feeder for the existing main
railway line.

Technical & Engineering Consideration

Gauge Conversion, Doubling, Yard Remodeling, Passenger
Terminals
• New railway line is a capital-intensive project and each
kilometer of a new railway line costs depending upon the
topography of the area, the standard of construction, and such
other features.
• A lot of thought be given when making a final decision as to
whether a new railway line is at all necessary or not.
 Alignment
Alignment of railway line refers to the direction and position
given to the center line of the railway track on the ground in the
horizontal and vertical planes.
Basic Requirements of an Ideal
Alignment
• Purpose of the New Railway Line
• Integrated Development
• Economic Considerations
• Maximum Safety and Comfort
• Aesthetic Considerations
 Purpose of the New Railway Line
• should serve the basic purpose for which the railway line is
being constructed.
• the purpose may include strategic consideration. political
considerations, development of area etc.

Integrated Development
• should fit in with the general planning and form a part of the
integrated development of the country.
Economic Considerations
• Shortest route
• Construction and maintenance cost
• Minimum operational expenses

Maximum Safety and Comfort

• should provides maximum safety and comfort
• achieved by designing curves with proper transition lengths,
providing vertical curves for gradients, and incorporating
other such technical features.
Aesthetic Considerations
• Aesthetic aspects should also be given due weightage.
• Rail should be visually pleasing such passing through
natural and beautiful surroundings with scenic beauty
• Avoid views of borrow pits etc.
 Importance of Good Alignment
• A new line should be aligned carefully after proper considerations
• Improper alignment may ultimately o be more costly and may not
be able to fulfill the desired objectives.
• Railway constructions are capital-intensive projects, once
constructed, it is very difficult to change the alignment because
• the costly structures, difficulty in getting additional land for the new
alignment, and such other considerations.
 Selection of a Good Alignment

• A direct straight route connecting two points is the shortest and

most economical route for a railway line
• there are practical problems and other compulsions which
necessitate deviation from this route.
• The various factors involved is the selection of a good alignment
are:
 Selection of a Good Alignment

• Geological Formation • Religious and Historical

• Effect of Flood and Climate Monuments
• Position of Roads and Road • Cost Considerations
Crossings • Traffic Considerations
• Proximity of Labor and Material • Economic Considerations
• Location of Railway Stations and • Political Considerations
Yards
 Preliminary Investigations
for a New Railway Line
• Preliminary investigations are normally based on a careful study of the
following:
 Existing topo sheets and other maps of the area
 Published figures of trade and population of the area to be served
 Statistical data of existing railway lines in similar terrain in other areas
• From these investigations, it becomes possible to decide whether the new
railway line is required or not
• Surveys should then be taken to get more details of the new line being
contemplated.
 Railway Survey
Based on preliminary investigations about the general feasibility and desirability
of a railway line, surveys are undertaken. The following types of surveys are
normally conducted:

Final
Traffic Reconnaissance Preliminary
location
survey survey survey
survey
 Traffic Survey
• Traffic survey includes a detailed study of the traffic conditions in the area with
a view to determine the
(a) most promising route for the railway in the area
(b) possible traffic the railway line will carry
(c) standard of railway line to be followed

• normally undertaken in conjunction with reconnaissance or preliminary

surveys so that the technical feasibility and relative costs of alternative
proposals can be formulated.
• traffic survey team should work in close cooperation with the engineering
survey team.
• should visit all trade centers in the area and consult local bodies, state
governments, and prominent citizens regarding trade and industry and
propose the most suitable alignment for the new line.
 Traffic Survey
Traffic survey consists of an economic study of the area, information on
which should be collected in detail:

(a) Human resources

(b) Agricultural and mineral resources
(c) Pattern of trade and commerce
(d) Industries located and projected
(e) Prospects of tourist traffic
(f) Existing transport facilities
(g) Locations of important government and private offices
(h) Planning for economic development of the area
 Traffic Survey

The traffic survey should make an assessment of the traffic likely to be

carried by to the new line.
Details of traffic likely to be offered by various government
organizations, public bodies, or private enterprises should be
gathered.
The traffic survey report should normally contain the following
information:
 Traffic Survey
• History of the proposal and terms of reference
• General description
• Potentials and prospects
• Industrial and economic development and traffic projections
• Population projection and volume of passenger traffic
• Existing rates and rates to be charged
• Location of route or routes examined, alternate routes, and possible extensions
• Station location and their importance
• Train services, section capacity. and various alternative ways of increasing capacity
• Coaching earnings
• Goods earnings
• Working expenses and net receipts
• Engineering features
• Telecommunication facilities
• Financial appraisal
• Conclusions and recommendations
 Reconnaissance Survey
• Rapid and rough investigation of the area with a view to determine the
technical feasibility of the proposal as well as the rough cost of one or
more alternatives to the new line.
• The reconnaissance survey (RECCE) is normally based on contoured
survey maps and other data already available without carrying out
detailed investigations in the field.
• With the help of the maps, different alternative alignments of the new line
are studied.
• The general topography of the country is studied by the survey team and
then field data are collected.
 Reconnaissance Survey
Field Data

• General topography of the country

• Approximate heights of the different points falling on the alignment
• Positions of rivers, streams, and some hydrological details of the same
• Positions of roads and highways
• Nature of soil at different places
• Rough location of various station sites
• Controlling points on the alignment, through which the railway line must pass
• Facilities for construction
 Preliminary Survey

• Consists of a detailed instrumental examination of the route to be selected as

a result of the reconnaissance survey in order to estimate the cost of the
proposed railway line.
• Based on the preliminary and traffic survey reports, the railway
administration decides whether or not the proposed railway line is to be
constructed.
 Preliminary Survey
Instruments for Preliminary Survey

• Theodolite for traversing and pegging the center line

• Tachometer for plotting the main features
• Dumpy level for taking the longitudinal and cross levels
• Plane table for getting details of various features
• Prismatic compass for measuring the magnetic bearings of a
particular alignment
 Preliminary Survey
Modern Survey Techniques & Instrument

• Satellite Imagery
• Aerial Photograph
• Contour Maps
• Digital Modeling
• Photogrammetric model sheets
 Final Location Survey

• Once a decision has been taken for a particular railway line to be

constructed, a final location survey is done.
• The instruments used are generally the same as in the case of the
preliminary survey.
• Final location survey is done to prepare working details and make accurate
cost estimates in certain cases.
 Final Location Survey
Differences between the Preliminary and the
Final Location Survey

FINAL LOCATION PRELIMINARY

REQUIREMENT
SURVEY SURVEY

Alignment Fully Staked No

Survey Report Detailed No

Working Drawing All No

 Final Location Survey
The following tasks are carried out in the final location survey.

• The center line is fully marked by pegs at 20m. At each 100 m, a large
peg should be used.
• Masonry pillars are built at tangent points of curves and along the center
line at intervals of 500 m.
• Longitudinal and cross levelling is done to ascertain the final gradient of
the alignment. All gradients are compensated for curves.
• The sites for station yards are fully demarcated.
 Final Location Survey
The following set of drawings is prepared

• General map of the country traversed by the project at a scale of about 20km
to 1cm
• Index map, scale about 2.5km to 1cm
• Index plan and sections
• Detailed plans and sections
• Plans and cross section
• Plans of station yards
• Detailed drawings of structures
• Plans of junction arrangements
THANK YOU

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