Aeolian sand challenges in desert rail infrastructures, overview of Iran’s experience and advancement

Abstract

The processes of wind erosion and the movement of dunes have destructive effects on the transportation infrastructure with an emphasis on railway lines. Consequently, the construction and maintenance costs of desert railways will increase under the influence of sand sediment movement. In severe conditions, passing trains can also be affected, compromising their safety and comfort. However, the passage of railway infrastructures through desert areas prone to aeolian sand is inevitable. This research discusses the main challenges encountered by railways in Iran's deserts, including two ultimate and serviceability limit states that affect civil works, track superstructure, rolling stock, and signaling systems. It also examines the mitigating measures implemented in Iran based on the source, transport, or deposition areas of sand dunes. Moreover, the performance of Iran's desert railways has been classified based on wind sand activities. According to the distribution map of Iran's railway network, sand accumulation in the main desert lines has been classified into four levels: very severe, severe, moderate, and low. The research also presents the experience of implementing and monitoring the hump slab track system, which has proven to be a sustainable solution for addressing the dune problem with suitable efficiency over a period of six months.