Published
permanent way
vr.tr.permanent-way · thing-q3566293
Let an agent explain the permanent way and its components, relay gauge, standards, inspection and maintenance rules from infrastructure managers and safety authorities, and separate track from signalling, electrification and rolling stock.
Thing Registry Physical world and living systems PHY.BLT
Bundle → Layer → Finding → QuestionsClassifiersWhat it isWhy it existsDistinguishing featuresWhat robots and AI may and may not doMoral aspectsOwnersLinks to other meta-modelsIdentity and identifiersDirect propertiesRecognitionCapabilities and actionsHazards and failure modesStandards and interfacesContext of useSources
Bundle → Layer → Finding → Questions Filled
4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions
Components What the track consists of.
Parts
Rails, sleepers, ballast.
Parts
Parts.
- What are the components of the permanent way, and what does each do? definition
- Is the question about track, signalling, electrification or rolling stock? boundary
Types
Ballasted and ballastless.
Types
Types.
- How do ballasted and slab track differ, and where is each used? definition
- Which entry fits a specific track type? action
Standards Gauge and geometry.
Gauge
Gauge.
Gauge
Gauge.
- What gauge and rail profile does the line use, and what standards apply? measurement
- Which entry fits track gauge? action
Geometry
Geometry tolerances.
Geometry
Geometry.
- What geometry tolerances apply to alignment, level and gauge, and how are they measured? measurement
- Which standard sets them? provenance
Maintain Inspection and maintenance.
Inspection
Inspection.
Inspection
Inspection.
- How is track inspected, by patrol, recording vehicles and ultrasonic testing? provenance
- Which entry fits railway safety? action
Maintenance
Maintenance.
Maintenance
Maintenance.
- What maintenance and renewal work keeps the track in service, and what safety rules protect workers? provenance
- Is the question about a specific site, which needs the infrastructure manager? boundary
Context History and engineering.
History
History.
History
History.
- How did track develop from early plateways to continuous welded rail and slab track? provenance
- Which references are standard? provenance
Engineering
Design.
Engineering
Engineering.
- How is track designed for loads, speed and drainage? provenance
- Which entry fits railway engineering? action
Classifiers Filled
- Family
- Thing Registry
- Category
- Physical world and living systems
- Entry kind
- thing
- Plane
- PHY
- Domain
- PHY.BLT
- Other names and narrower kinds
- Colonial Railway, ballastless track, Ladder track
What it is Filled
The finished track of a railway on which trains run: the rails, sleepers or slab, fastenings, ballast or ballastless base and the formation beneath, together with switches and crossings, built to a gauge and maintained to tolerances of alignment and level; the term distinguishes the permanent track from temporary construction lines.
Why it exists Filled
Let an agent explain the permanent way and its components, relay gauge, standards, inspection and maintenance rules from infrastructure managers and safety authorities, and separate track from signalling, electrification and rolling stock.
Distinguishing features Filled
- Fixed track structure, not temporary
- Rails held to gauge on sleepers or slab
- Ballasted or ballastless
- Maintained to geometry tolerances
What robots and AI may and may not do Filled
Must not
- Enter or work on the permanent way without a safe system of work and possession.
- Clear a section of track for traffic after maintenance without authorisation.
- Tamper with switches, signals or fastenings.
- Hide or delay reporting a defect that could derail a train.
Only with a human decision
- Closing or reopening a line.
- Setting temporary speed restrictions.
May
- Monitor track geometry, rail wear and ballast condition for the infrastructure manager.
- Report defects such as broken rails or faulty switches at once.
Moral aspects Filled
- Track defects cause derailments that kill passengers and track workers.
- Track workers are at risk from passing trains.
Who is affected
- Passengers
- Track workers
- People living near the line
Owners Filled
Steward
The railway infrastructure manager that owns and maintains the track.
Master systems
- Railway infrastructure asset registers
Links to other meta-models Filled
parent
- Q801765 - registry parent class
related
- track body - the built structure
- railway line - the whole route
- train - the vehicles
- railway signalling - a separate system
What else AI and robots need to interact with it Filled
Identity and identifiers required Filled
- Vercy registry: vr.tr.permanent-way
- Wikidata: Q3566293 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3566293)
- track gauge: mm defines compatibility
- rail profile: such as 60E1 European standard profiles
Direct properties required Filled
- standard gauge: 1435 mm - most common; broad and narrow gauges exist
- rail mass: 40-70 kg per metre - by line class
- ballast depth: about 250-350 mm - under sleepers on main lines
Recognition required Filled
- Rails, sleepers, fastenings and ballast or slab
- Gauge between the rails
- Overhead wires, signals and trains are other systems
- Two steel rails on sleepers in ballast, or on a concrete slab, running on a prepared formation with drainage.
Capabilities and actions required Filled
- explain the components and their functions
- relay gauge and track standards
- explain inspection and maintenance regimes
- distinguish ballasted from ballastless track
Hazards and failure modes required Filled
- Rail breaks and buckling in heat
- Track geometry faults causing derailment
- Ballast fouling and drainage failure
- Worker safety during maintenance
Standards and interfaces required Filled
- EN 13674 rail standards and related European norms
- Infrastructure manager track standards and inspection rules
- National railway safety regulations
- EU technical specifications for interoperability
Context of use required Filled
- Carrying and guiding trains safely.
- ballasted track
- ballastless or slab track
- continuous welded rail and jointed track
- switches and crossings
- track for tramways, metros and high-speed lines
- historical and narrow gauge track
Sources Filled
- Wikidata item Q3566293: permanent way - identity and sense of the item
- Wikipedia (de): Oberbau (Eisenbahn) - general description of the item
Open questions
- Should switches and crossings be a separate entry?
- How should national standards be linked?
- The registry entry has merged aliases for a historical railway and specific track types; should they be split off?
Machine files
Provenance
thing registry research (pass 2) · unreviewed
Built from: models/things/publications/thing-q3566293/spec.json