An automated technology for constructing a concrete base for a ballastless track was tested on the Moscow — St. Petersburg high-speed railway. The development and testing of the solution were carried out by Natsproektstroy, using a complex of machines for layer-by-layer laying of high-strength concrete.
The company reported that the ballastless track structure for HSR includes several concrete layers that form a rigid base under the rail slab. The key requirement for accuracy was the maximum permissible height error — no more than 5 mm, which is critical for high-speed movement.
An automated complex of three machines is used for laying, ensuring a continuous process of base formation at a speed of up to one meter per minute. According to the developers, the system allows stabilizing the geometry of the base and reducing the influence of the human factor.
After the technology is refined, a test section of ballastless track is planned for construction on the Sablino — Tosno section of the Oktyabrskaya Railway. There, the structure will be tested under real loads during Sapsan train movements to evaluate the behavior of the entire system — from the concrete base to the rail slab.
The transition to ballastless structures is considered a key direction for high-speed railways, as such solutions provide more stable track geometry, reduce maintenance needs, and increase infrastructure durability under high loads.