Method of installing a rail support arrangement

Abstract

(100, 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d, 800, 1000, 1100) upon which a plurality of rails (190) can be supported, wobei a slab (110,1010) of the rail support arrangement is mounted to a bedding layer provided directly onto an installation area of compacted ground.

1 . A method of installing a rail support arrangement upon which a plurality of rails can be supported, the rail support arrangement comprising a slab and a plurality of rail supports respectively mounted in the slab, the method comprising:
 preparing an installation area, being an area to which the rail support arrangement is to be installed, wherein the installation area is formed of compacted ground;   providing, directly onto the compacted ground of the installation area, a bedding layer for mounting to the slab of the rail support arrangement; and   mounting the slab of the rail support arrangement to the bedding layer, to thereby install the rail support arrangement.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of preparing an installation area comprises excavating or milling from a road surface to define the installation area. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of preparing an installation area comprises excavating or milling from the road surface to a depth of no more than 400 mm to define the installation area. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the height of the slab is no greater than 150 mm. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the height of the bedding layer, after mounting of the slab to the bedding layer, is no greater than 100 mm. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a step of positioning the slab at a desired location with respect to the installation area, wherein the step of positioning the slab at the desired location is performed before the step of providing the bedding layer. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the step of providing the bedding layer comprises pumping or injecting the bedding layer beneath the position of the slab. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the slab of the rail support arrangement is formed of a fiber reinforced concrete. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the slab is formed of an ultra-high performance fiber reinforced concrete. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the slab has a perpetual flexural fatigue strength of no less than 5 MPa. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, after mounting the slab to the bedding layer, providing a first layer of course on top of any and all exposed parts of the bedding layer. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the uppermost surface of the first layer of course lies in a same plane as the uppermost surface of the slab. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising, after providing the first layer of course on top of any exposed parts of the bedding layer, providing a stress absorbing membrane layer on top of any exposed parts of the slab and the first layer of course. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising, after providing the stress absorbing membrane layer, providing a second layer of course on top of the stress absorbing membrane layer. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising, after providing the second layer of course, providing a layer of surface or pavement course on top of the second layer of course. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein, if the step of preparing an installation area comprises excavating or milling from a road surface to define the installation area, the uppermost surface of the layer of surface or pavement course lies in a same plane as the uppermost surface of the unexcavated or non-milled road surface. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the stress absorbing membrane is formed of a polymer based material. 
     
     
         18 . The method of any of  claim 1 , further comprising, after mounting the slab of the rail support arrangement to the bedding layer, securing a plurality of rails to the rail support arrangement. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein, if the step of preparing an installation area comprises excavating or milling from a road surface to define the installation area, the uppermost part of the plurality of rails lies in or below the plane in which the uppermost surface of the unexcavated or non-milled road surface lies. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of mounting the slab of the rail support arrangement to the bedding layer comprises embedding the slab in the bedding layer. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bedding layer is formed of a controlled low strength material. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the rail support arrangement comprises:
 the slab, which has two or more primary transverse grooves; and   the plurality of rail supports, each rail support being mounted in a respective primary transverse groove and comprising at least one projection configured to engage with a rail fastening system, received in the respective primary transverse groove, that couples a rail to the rail support so as to restrict or prevent a movement of the rail in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the respective primary transverse groove.