Railway City

Cracks on rail may emerge as a result of train running or manufacture defects. However, these cracks do not pose any immediate safety risks as they propagate very slowly, normally in terms of months or years. The railway corporation has also put in place a robust maintenance regime to inspect and detect the emergence of rail cracks. The rail detected with cracks will be appropriately monitored, reinforced or replaced.

For ballasted track, the "ballast" or stone chippings serve to hold the track in place, distribute the load from the track (through the wooden or more commonly concrete sleepers) to the track bed and facilitate drainage of water. The rails are in fact supported by the sleepers positioned at regular intervals along the track. It is not necessary for the ballast to be in touch with the bottom of the rails and may leave a gap between the rail base and the ballast.