Mexico upgrades: Mexican railroaders are working hard not only to keep up with m/w demands, but also to upgrade and expand their systems

Railway Track and Structures, Dec, 2004

Relevant jobs on the L Line

* In 2003, a total of 1,125 weldings of 115 pounds were applied, from which 384 were placed by the divisional welders and 741 by the welding system group.

* With this amount, in 2003, 144 km (89 miles) of jointed tracks were converted to welded tracks.

115-pound rail

* In 2004, 382 weldings of 115 pounds were applied, with divisional welders to eliminate Sperry and insertion defects.

* In 2003, with TFM track personnel, 179 tons of rail were placed, of which 148.5 tons were first class and 30.5 tons were second class.

* Curves that showed excessive wearing and deformations were protected.

* In 2004, 30.8 tons of second class rail were placed in insertions and rails damaged because of derailments were replaced.

136-pound rail

* In 2004, 2,436 tons of 136-pound rail were placed between kilometers 300 and 461.6.

* 36.863 kilometers (23 miles) of sharp curves were replaced.

* The fixing of the installed rail has the curve-block technology that relaxes the side stress in curves.

* Along with the rail, 361 aluminothermic welds were installed.

* During this work, 4,838 meters (three miles) of 115-pound rail were moved to other curves of less degree.

Crossties

* In 2003, 33,605 wooden ties were installed. Of these, 13,072 were installed by the division personnel and 20,533 with mechanical equipment.

* By 2004, 23,339 wooden ties were installed, 16,177 with mechanical equipment and 7,162 by track personnel.

* The tie-insertion system group placed 2,000 concrete ties.

Leveling

* In 2003, the TAS-II system group leveled (tamped) 229.6 km (142 miles) of track. For this work, 10,432 cubic meters (13,561 cubic yards) of ballast of basaltic origin were used.

* By 2004, 356 km (220 miles) of track were leveled and 9,445 cubic meters of ballast (12,345 cubic yards) have been placed.

Ditch drainage and sidewalk clearing with CJ-4 equipment

* In 2003, TFM cleaned 17 km (11 miles) of ditches.

* By 2004, 102.81 km (64 miles) of ditches had been cleaned.

New construction

* 126 meters of retaining wall were built in 2004 in the L-439, 440, 448, 450 and 452 kilometric plates.

Special equipment checking

* By 2003 and 2004, the defects detected by the Holland TrackSTAR[R] and Sperry special equipment were totally corrected.

There is not enough space to describe every track project on Ferromex and TFM, much less all the other railroads in Mexico. These examples do show the depth of work now taking place in that country.