GIC, voestalpine Nortrak partner on concrete-based track support systems
Written by Kyra Senese, Managing Editor
Nortrak
GIC Railroad Products USA, LLC (GIC), and voestalpine Nortrak Inc. (Nortrak) have partnered to produce a new generation of high-performance concrete track support systems for the North American railroad and transit markets.
The partnership, referred to by representatives as “GIC by Nortrak,” aims to supply freight railroads with a variety of pre-stressed concrete crossties tailored to the needs of heavy-haul, shared-access corridor, industrial and yard applications.
“We are really excited at the prospect of collaborating with GIC,” said Nortrak CEO Dave Millard. “Coupling Nortrak’s strength in concrete production and customer support with GIC’s excellence in design and technology should prove to be a game changer for the market.”
The “GIC by Nortrak” partnership will supply passenger and transit railroads with rail seat blocks for ballastless track and crossties for ballasted track.
Representatives say GIC’s crosstie and rail seat support technology meets or exceeds the design qualification requirements of the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association.
The technology offers advantages compared to conventional designs, the company says, adding that customers will see reduced risks of rail seat deterioration and abrasion, an eliminated risk of end splitting/bond failure, lower ballast pressure at the base of tie and reduced width of the ballast section needed for new construction.
GIC says its concrete crossties are currently in revenue service on several Class 1 and passenger railroads with reportedly successful performance.
Using GIC’s rail seat block technology for ballastless track is highly cost competitive, bringing increased construction speed and improved adjustment capabilities, the company says.
The complete “GIC by Nortrak” product line is set to be available from Nortrak’s Cheyenne, Wyo., plant beginning in 2017.
