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January 2025
Compiled by Michael Popke
HiRAIL Inc. offers full-depth rubber grade crossings manufactured from recycled rubber. The crossings themselves also are recyclable once they reach the end of their life. The crossings are designed to fit timber ties of 8.5, 9 and 10 feet. company officials said in an email.
In addition to fitting timber ties, HiRAIL rubber crossings can be manufactured to fit steel ties, as well as numerous concrete ties and fastening systems. HiRAIL also offers rubber rail seal manufactured from virgin rubber for light-duty or partially rehabilitated crossings.
ONYX Rail Safety Solutions offers XING™, a 24/7/365 critical location monitoring system that identifies operational and hazardous conditions including violations, trespassers, near-misses, obstructions and collisions. XING is applicable to grade crossings, control points, yards, platforms and other key locations, company officials said.
Sensors include but are not limited to cameras for object identification, radar for train speed and SCADA inputs. The system identifies crossing warning system failures or malfunctions to ensure compliance with Federal Railroad Administration regulations, according to ONYX; sparks, fire and smoke are detected on trains, in stations or other monitored locations.
Upon identifying a hazardous condition, XING automatically notifies all configured stakeholders, providing the FRA crossing number, name, date, time of day and nature of the problem. It sends near-real-time notifications via text, email and automated phone calls.
XING servers continuously compile information from all monitored sites, and data analytics provide statistical analyses and reports to identify trends and patterns for operational events, failures, hazards and safety concerns. The information enables users to plan and allocate resources more effectively, company officials said. XING also can share information with monitoring centers, dispatch systems and other railroad enterprise systems.
Polycorp Ltd., which invented the Epflex Railseal, offers a range of products - from pre-cast and tub-style concrete panels to traditional asphalt crossings. The increasing demand for advanced safety at crossings led the company to develop the Safety Flangeway Railseal, a product that “relies on decades of proven Epflex Railseal history,” company officials said.
Safety Flangeway Railseal provides a reduced flangeway contour, resulting in a safer, easier crossing for bicycles, wheelchairs and other narrow-wheeled vehicles while also providing minimal contact with the passing wheel flange at regular train speeds.
The vast majority of bicycle and wheelchair incidents at rail crossings are a direct result of tires becoming trapped in the flangeway. Safety Flangeway Railseal eliminates the potential for these accidents to occur with a specifically shaped flangeway designed to minimize the risk of a wheel becoming trapped while maximizing the ability for the wheel to be removed quickly without incident.
Safety Flangeway Railseal products are available for any rail size and track configuration, company officials said.
Trak-Star's product lineup includes advanced rail drills powered by gas or hydraulic systems, offering optimal performance for on-the-go crews. They can be used for rail changeouts when repairing or replacing track at a crossing or constructing a new one in the yard, company officials said.
The company also makes Twister Bits, premium annular cutters engineered specifically for rail applications. These cutters ensure faster, cleaner drilling with significantly reduced heat, and are available in sizes up to 1 and 11/16 inch in high-speed steel (HSS) or carbide-tipped versions, company officials said.
For demanding environments, Trak-Star offers gas- and hydraulic-powered rail saws. The company also provides a wide range of accessories to enhance crew productivity, including sockets, carbide chucks, storage solutions, templates and coolant.
Michael Popke is a Madison, Wisconsin-based freelance writer. Email comments or questions to prograil@tradepress.com.
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