Ballasted Concrete Track refers to a traditional track structure that uses ballast (crushed stone) and concrete sleepers. It is one of the most widely used forms of track in China and was common in the early phases of high-speed rail development.
Main Structure:
Rails are fixed onto concrete sleepers using elastic fasteners.
Sleepers are embedded in a ballast bed (typically 30–35 cm thick) that distributes train loads, ensures drainage, and maintains track stability.
Below the ballast is the subgrade or reinforced base.
Advantages:
Mature construction techniques and flexible maintenance; easy to replace sleepers and ballast.
Relatively lower cost, suitable for large-scale track laying.
Good elasticity, lower noise, and standard maintenance equipment.
Disadvantages:
At sustained high speeds (>250 km/h), ballast may fly up, posing safety and stability risks.
Ballast beds require regular maintenance and tamping, adding to long-term costs.
Less suitable for tunnels, bridges, or special structures.
Typical Applications:
Widely used in China’s early high-speed rail lines (e.g., Qinhuangdao–Shenyang Passenger Line).
Still found in sections of modern high-speed rail, conventional trunk lines, and freight railways.