Technical Spec Sliding Rail Expansion Joints.pdf

MASSACHUSETTS BAY

TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY

SPECIFICATION FOR

PROCUREMENT OF SLIDING RAIL EXPANSION JOINTS

PREPARED BY:

Engineering and Maintenance

Maintenance of Way Division

April 12, 2021

TABLE OF CONTENTS

General

Submittals

General Design Parameters

Quality Control/ Quality Assurance

Shipping

General

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) seeks to purchase new sliding rail expansion joint assemblies to replace expansion joints currently in revenue service on ballasted track on the Rapid Transit and Light Rail Transit lines. These specifications call for the design, fabrication, testing, shop assembly, inspection, packaging and delivery of expansion joints as outlined in this document and attached drawing in accordance with industry standards. A total of 12 pairs (12 each LH and 12 each RH) are to be furnished per this specification. Successful bidder must be able to deliver the expansion joints specified in this document within 120 days of shop drawing approval by the MBTA.

Applicable Documents

The latest revisions of the following references apply to work included in this specification:

1. AREMA – American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association Manual for Railway Engineering

2. AREMA – Portfolio of Trackwork Plans

3. ASTM – American Society for Testing and Materials

3. ANSI – American National Standards Institute

Submittals Prior to fabrication, the manufacturer shall provide the following for review and approval:

1. Shop drawings of typical sliding rail expansion joint layout, and individual components including but not limited to, fixed rails, sliding rails, base plates, guarding, bracing, rail fasteners, and hardware.

Shop drawings shall include full details, critical dimensions and fabrication tolerance information.

Actual fabrication of expansion joint components shall not be undertaken prior to acceptance of shop drawings by the MBTA.

2. Certificates of material compliance as required by AREMA and this Specification.

3. Test reports of chemical analyses, Brinell hardness, electrical insulation, and other tests as required by AREMA and this Specification.

3. Six (6) copies of all shop drawings along with electronic media containing CAD drawings shall be forwarded to:

Maintenance of Way Track Engineering M.B.T.A.

25 Arlington Ave – Building 2 Charlestown, MA 02129

Attn: Christian Torres

General Design Parameters

The following general descriptions apply to the components associated with the expansion joints specified in this specification. Additional information is shown on the attached drawings.

1. Expansion joints shall be of sliding stock rail/ fixed point rail design and shall be fabricated from 115RE rail, A36 steel baseplates, cast or machined filler blocks, and bolted or welded braces and other hardware.

2. Expansion joint components shall be designed for standard gage on timber and ballasted track applications and shall be suitable for both Light and Heavy Rail Transit revenue vehicle traffic.

3. The rail expansion joint shall be designed to handle a minimum expansion of 30” (15” of movement in each direction) and hold the rail at a 1:40 cant.

Quality Control/ Quality Assurance

Testing

The manufacturer shall perform, and provide reports of, all testing and inspections required to ensure compliance with these specifications at no additional expense to the MBTA. Any product which does not comply with the specifications outlined herein will be rejected.

Inspection

The manufacturer shall retain the services of a qualified inspection agency for inspection of the material specified herein. Actual physical inspection of the material as well as review of the manufacturing process to assure compliance with plans and specifications shall be undertaken. Completed inspection reports shall be mailed the MBTA prior to delivery of material.

MBTA or designated representative shall be afforded reasonable access to the manufacturer’s facilities for the purpose of verifying the manufacturer’s QA/QC process.

Shipping

Upon completion of fabrication, expansion joints are to be shop assembled to design alignment and tolerances. Permanent identification tags made of corrosion resistant metal indicating name of manufacturer, fabrication date, order and part number, and left or right “hand” designation are to be permanently affixed to each unit in this order. All material shall be palletized and banded.

Delivery shall be made via motor freight between the hours of 7:00 AM and 3:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Confirmation of delivery date and time must be given 24 hours in advance during the same hours.

to the attention of Mike Snow – Supervisor of Yard Services, (617) 222-3243 at the following address:

MBTA Rail Shop

25 Arlington Avenue

Charlestown, MA 02129