Evaluation of the service life and failure dynamics of crosspieces on the Trans-Siberian Railway

The article discusses the assessment of the actual service life and failure dynamics of crosspieces in the harsh operating conditions of the Trans-Siberian Railway. The article provides an overview of the various brands and designs of crosspieces used on the Trans-Siberian Railway (ZSDI), separately for tracks I and II. It is determined that 99…100 % of the brands – 1/11, and that 74…78 % of the projects – 2750 and 13…17 % – 2768. The article assesses the failures of crosspieces of switch-gates (SP) in particularly heavy-duty conditions on the I and II tracks of the Trans-Siberian Railway. The analysis was conducted based on the reporting materials for the last 5 years (2020–2024) of three track sections located in the direction of Omsk – Novosibirsk. The dynamics of failures of modern new crosspieces (mark 1/11, projects 2750 and 2768) during their first service life and old crosspieces during their second service life were evaluated. As a result, a comparative analysis of the first and second service lives of new and used crosspieces was conducted based on failures of three groups of crosspieces: modern new (current cycle); new (previous cycle); used (previous cycle, re-laid). For example, the average time before failure of Project 2750 crosspieces on tracks I and II for modern new (current cycle) crosspieces is 133…138 million tons, which is 9% higher than for new (previous cycle) crosspieces – 122…126 million tons. A comparative analysis of the normative and actual service life levels of crosspieces for the harsh operating conditions of the Trans-Siberian Railway has been carried out.