Curved Track

a curved section of railroad track. In the USSR, the radius of curvature in sections of track between stations varies from 300 to 4,000 m. Sections of curved track with a smaller radius are exceptional. On high-speed lines, where speeds reach 160 km/hr, the radii of curved track should be at least 2,000 m. Straight sections of track are joined to circular curves by means of curved point rails, whose radii gradually decrease from infinity to the radius of the circular curve. This assures smooth travel of the rolling stock.