Pandrol Rail Fastenings - Rail Fastening Systems

Pandrol has specialised in the design and manufacture of resilient rail fastening systems and associated installation equipment since 1937, and supplies over 240 railway systems in 91 countries worldwide. Today it is the world leader in its field, supplying more than twice as many resilient fastenings as its nearest rival.

A continuous programme of research and development, extensive laboratory testing and in-track trials has created a portfolio of proprietary products suitable for use on every type of track and traffic condition. These include the following.

Pandrol FASTCLIP 'FC'

The Pandrol FASTCLIP rail fastening is a pre-assembled system, developed in response to the growing need for fast, efficient track installation and reduced maintenance costs.

Retaining many of the characteristics of earlier Pandrol fastenings, it offers new benefits such as captive components throughout its service life, and highly mechanised application with minimal labour. Clip application rates of up to 40 sleepers/minute are achieved.

Within 8 years of the first track installation, FASTCLIP has been adopted by 35 railways in 16 countries, making it the fastest growing rail fastening in the world.

Pandrol VIPA-SP

A second-generation, optimised design from the VIPA family has been developed to reduce secondary noise and vibration through a two part resilient pad system. The overall size of the assembly has been reduced to allow for retrofitting onto existing systems, which in turn has reduced the weight of the assembly.

VIPA-SP incorporates FASTCLIP components, enabling preassembly before delivery to the installation site. The fully pre-assembled unit may be fitted mechanically using either top down or bottom up construction methods.

Pandrol FASTCLIP 'FD'

Incorporating many of the advantages of the FASTCLIP FC system, FASTCLIP FD is a simplified system for railways operating low or medium density operations on rail sections of 50kg or below and at speeds generally less than 120km/hr.

Vanguard

A revolutionary way of supporting rail in slab, viaduct and tunnel applications. The rail is supported under the head and in the web with rubber supports, leaving the foot of the rail suspended with free space below. With exceptionally low stiffness characteristics, the vibration attenuation and gauge control performance is expected to be outstanding, but at a cost much lower than floating slabs and other track forms designed to achieve a similar level of performance.

Pandrol e-PLUS

Pandrol e-PLUS utilises in 'e' clip assemblies the two-piece insulator concept developed for FASTCLIP. It is ideally suited to locations where very high lateral forces shorten the life of conventional insulators. Its unique feature is a toe insulator which 'rolls' on the rail base as the rail moves laterally.

Research and development

The Group's research and development facility is located at Worksop in the UK. Divided into three sections, product development, product testing and metallurgical analysis, and containing state-of-the-art equipment, the Pandrol laboratory has equipment and capabilities for developing and testing rail fastenings and associated components not matched by any other fastening supplier or independent testing organisations.

Technical support

In addition to the work carried out within the Pandrol facility, accurate in-track measurements are made using specially developed equipment. Track behaviour is modelled by computer. These additional inputs enable laboratory tests to be defined which closely represent real in-track loadings.

Pandrol also works closely with technical universities and companies manufacturing railway track materials associated with track fastenings, such as sleeper makers, switch and crossings manufacturers and track machinery producers to ensure that its systems are compatible with available technologies in these fields.

Pandrol's technical depth has been recognised within the railway industry and has resulted in its personnel being invited to participate with national railway experts in the formulation of new international railway track standards.