Drainage Issues
Effective drainage is essential to maintaining the structural integrity of railway trackbeds. Poor drainage can result in water accumulation, ballast fouling, and subgrade softening, all of which contribute to accelerated track degradation. Our inspections help pinpoint areas where drainage systems are underperforming or blocked, allowing railway operators to take corrective actions before water-related damage leads to costly failures.
The Challenge
- Ballast fouling & saturation – Poor drainage can saturate the ballast and subgrade, reducing trackbed stiffness and accelerating failure.
- Trackbed degradation – Increased moisture levels cause subgrade erosion, ballast degradation, the formation of mud spots and uneven trackbed support.
- Sleepers & rail degradation –Sleepers and rails degrade faster where drainage is poor, and moisture is trapped in the ballast. This is caused by abrasive action on the underside of sleepers and increased rail wear due to increased dynamic forces and support degradation.
- Climate & terrain variability – Diverse environmental conditions, such as intense rainfall, flood risks, and poor trackside drainage, can exacerbate water-related issues.
Our Solutions
- Regional & site-specific assessments – We integrate regional terrain modelling with on-site track surveys to map drainage pathways and evaluate flood risks to rail infrastructure.
- Targeted drainage inspections – High density lidar, GPR, and satellite data are used to pinpoint locations where drainage is underperforming, enabling focused investigations.
- Trackbed drainage assessment tool – Powered by GPR and LiDAR data, this tool evaluates ballast fouling, moisture presence, and drainage performance, supporting evidence-based maintenance planning.
- Proactive maintenance – Early identification of drainage issues enables targeted interventions that improve track resilience, extend asset life, and reduce the risk of service disruption.
Our Technology
Our technology ensures thorough drainage assessments that improve operational efficiency and reduce water-related damage:
- Satellite & airborne surveys – Regional flood risks and drainage performance can be assessed using satellite-based synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and airborne lidar, providing large-scale context.
- Lidar & GPR – High density lidar captures detailed trackside terrain, slopes, and surface drain conditions. GPR detects subsurface moisture and ballast fouling within the trackbed, highlighting potential drainage issues.
- Trackbed drainage assessment tool – This tool integrates GPR moisture data and lidar terrain scans to score drainage condition and deliver an ongoing, data-driven evaluation of trackbed performance.
- Treatment monitoring – We track changes in trackbed condition over time to measure the impact of drainage interventions, supporting continuous improvement and informed maintenance planning.
KEY BENEFITS
Unlocking Long-Term Resilience through Smart Drainage Management
Drainage Inspections
Use advanced LiDAR and GPR to detect underperforming drainage systems, pinpointing problem areas for corrective action.
Detailed Terrain Analysis
Regional and site-specific data combined to model drainage pathways and assess flood risks, improving infrastructure decisions.
Maintenance Planning
Trackbed drainage assessments help prioritise areas for intervention, extending asset life and reducing unplanned downtime.
Zetica House, Southfield Road
Eynsham, Oxfordshire, OX29 4JB
© Zetica Rail 2025.