Under Sleeper Pads are provided for Noise & Vibration (N&V) protection. They are also used for track quality purposes to improve track stability/performance, minimise track maintenance and preserve track ballast from the effects of attrition.
GNEE USP's have been installed in high-speed rail lines as well as Metro / City railways. USP's are provided to suit all types/shapes of sleepers and track gauges.
What are the features of Under Sleeper Pads?
Under Sleeper Pads (USPs) are elastic layers placed under railway sleepers that act as shock absorbers, featuring key characteristics like vibration dampening, improved load distribution, reduced maintenance, ballast protection, enhanced track stability, durability (often polyurethane/rubber), and simplified installation, ultimately extending track life and lowering operational costs for modern railways.
- Reduced Ballast cleaning & tamping
- Significantly reduces track deterioration
- Impact attenuation
- Reduced track grinding
Technical informations of Under Sleeper Pads
| Parameter | Specification |
| Material | Devulcanized rubber and Polypropylene |
| Colour | Black |
| Thickness | As needed for the customer specification |
| Dimensions | As per concrete sleeper size |
| Quantity per sleeper | 2 pieces |
| Density | 1168 kg/m³ |
| Cstat | 0.15 to 0.32 N/mm³ |
| Environmental impact | 95 % recycled - 100 % recyclable |
Is it mandatory to use undersleep pads in railways?
No, using under sleeper pads (USPs) isn't universally mandatory but is increasingly standard practice, especially for concrete sleepers, high-speed lines, and areas needing reduced maintenance, vibration control, or improved track geometry, with some national railways like Austria making them a standard design component for all mainlines. They spread load, extend track life, reduce ballast wear, and dampen vibrations, leading to significant lifecycle cost savings, though requirements vary by railway operator.
Key Reasons for USP Use
- Extend Asset Life: Reduces stress on ballast, increasing the lifespan of sleepers and ballast.
- Reduce Maintenance: Extends intervals between maintenance (like tamping) and reduces rail corrugation on curves.
- Improve Stability: Creates a stiffer, more homogeneous track and helps manage stiffness transitions.
- Vibration & Noise Control: Dampens vibrations, reducing environmental noise and protecting the track structure.
- Cost Savings: Lowers overall life-cycle costs despite initial investment.
GNEE RAIL provides exceptional elastic rail pads of various types for high-speed railways, normal-speed railways, and cranes. Especially the rail pads made of rubber, EVA, TPEE, and HDPE are very popular with customers. Our railway rubber pads fit the rails such as UIC54, UIC60, BS80lbs, BS100lbs, etc. We have more than 130set of machines in our production lines which can reach an annual production capacity of up to 2000, 000 pieces of rail pads. We offer a wide range of rail pads and other track materials at competitive prices.