Existing railway turnouts and switching machines in Japan were developed in 1955 through 1965. Since the original developing policy was appropriate, railway operators have used the switching machines without any modifications made to their original specifications. As new technologies incorporated today for track and turnouts, environmental conditions adjacent to the switching machines have altered. It is therefore conceivable that the design policy of switching machines needs to be renewed. This paper describes problems as solved and their results of switching machines. In addition, it has introduced problematic items to be renewed on the switching machines.

Copyright (c) 2006 Railway Technical Research Institute