Highly durable synthetic ballast

BALLAXT BY COMSA AIMS TO RESPOND TO THE INTEREST OF INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGERS TO EXTEND THE LIFE CYCLE OF TRACK ELEMENTS AND INCREASE THEIR QUALITY.

 Comsa and the Korea Railroad Research Institute technology centre, which is part of the National Research Council of Science and Technology, South Korea’s main R&D entity, are working on the development of the Ballaxt project with the aim of creating a new highly durable synthetic ballast.

Both organisations are advancing the process of researching ballast from synthetic materials with improved levels of strength and durability that will reduce the costs associated with track maintenance.

The project consists of the design and manufacture of new materials to create an artificial ballast, adaptable in shape, size, weight and composition, more resistant, that improves mechanical behaviour, increases the useful life of the railway bed and reduces maintenance costs. In addition, the new product will limit the environmental impact of natural rock quarrying.

Ballaxt aims to respond to the interest of infrastructure managers to extend the life cycle of track elements and increase their quality. Currently, infrastructure accounts for approximately one third of railway operating costs.

Ballaxt (Optimised ballast with extended durability) is funded by the European Commission through the Feder programme, with the support of Acció, the Catalan agency for business competitiveness.