PRACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION OF RESULTS OF ORE-ERRI RESEARCH ON WHEEL-RAIL CONTACT INTERACTION ON THE EUROPEAN RAILWAYS

ERRI and its predecessor ORE have made a considerable contribution to research in the areas of wheel-rail contact and rail behaviour. In vie w of the high-speed European network services, there has been much res earch into optimization of conventional track. This research is briefl y described in this paper. At present three specialist committees are working on topics related to wheel-rail contact in the areas of rollin g contact fatigue, reduction of corrugation and railway noise. The nee d for cooperation between the theoretical and the practical studies mu st be emphasized so that the railways can derive the greatest benefit from the studies.