Jointless Track

arbitrary designation of a railroad track on which the distance between the rail joints greatly exceeds the length of a standard rail. Jointless track is intended to withstand temperature tensions that are considerably higher than those faced by an ordinary railroad track (up to 150 meganewtons per sq m) and which arise in the rails as a result of variations in air temperature. In the USSR jointless track is made in lengths up to 800 m. Jointless track became widespread in foreign countries in the 1950’s and in the USSR in the 1960’s. Rail lengths for this type of track are manufactured from standard (25-m) rails by welding at the enterprises (bases) or immediately at the laying site. Jointless track is distinguished by its high performance quality (which permits the high-speed movement of trains), riding comfort for passengers, and a reduction in expenses for maintenance of track and rolling stock. More than 10,000 km of jointless track have been laid in the USSR (1968).