Buy and sell track ballast: High-quality material for railway infrastructure
Track ballast is essential in railway construction and is used for the construction and maintenance of railway lines . When purchasing track ballast, it is important to consider the specific grain size and material quality in order to fulfil the industry's high standards. Construction companies and railway infrastructure operators can buy ballast in various grain sizes and quantities and sell surplus material on railauction.plus if required. We are your one-stop shop for all rail industry goods - from trains and spare parts to ballast.
Grain size and material quality: what is important for track ballast
The choice of ballast grain size is of central importance for track construction. Typical grain sizes for the track bed are between 31.5 and 63 millimetres, which enables high stability and load distribution. This grain size ensures that the rails and sleepers are firmly and permanently fixed and do not slip even under heavy loads. In addition to the classic track ballast, finer ballast is also used for the formation protection layer. This protective layer consists of smaller grain sizes and provides additional stabilisation of the subsoil by protecting it from moisture and erosion. Companies such as Basalt offer specialised track ballast that meets the high requirements of railway infrastructure.
Layer structure of the track bed: Stability for heavy goods traffic
Substructure (subgrade): The substructure forms the lowest layer. This bears the loads and ensures the stability of the entire track substructure. Both earthworks and man-made structures can form the substructure.
Subgrade protection layer: Next comes the subgrade protection layer. This is an important barrier against moisture and soil erosion. It usually consists of a mixture of gravel and sand and crushed solid rock.
Track ballast: The actual track ballast lies on top of this, which ensures ideal load-bearing capacity and drainage for the track thanks to its density and strength. In addition, the track ballast ensures an even distribution of the forces generated by the rail traffic and prevents the tracks from slipping sideways. The correct layer structure and the selection of a high-quality ballast are therefore crucial to ensure a durable and stable railway infrastructure.
