Field test for reduction of maintenance of railway transition zones

Transition zones between embankments and rigid structures (e.g. a bridge) generate high maintenance costs for railway companies. In order to reduce maintenance, better understanding of the behaviour of these zones is required. The research described in this paper focuses on a field test on a transition zone at a typical soft soil site. An initial review identifies the most probable mechanisms of failure, selected from both literature and expert opinion. The field survey and results of short-term measurements and long-term measurements are described. The lessons learned are then discussed.