9 - 10 November 2023 in Düsseldorf, Hotel MELIA
European Conference Rail Track Ballast Management
- Hotel MELIA, Düsseldorf (DE)
- Exhibition/Sponsoring: YES
- Participation Fees: Personal participation: EUR 590, Video participation: EUR 490, Participation students: EUR 190, Video participation: EUR 120
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Organised by
Global Rail Academy &
Media and Jottkaa
Special Partners
Mode Of Event
The conference will be held as a hybrid conference. Participation is possible in person on site but also via video link.
The conference Language is English.
The conference Language is English.
Program (09 November 2023)
Program (10 November 2023 )
What is the relevance of the conference topic for railways?
What does the conference offer the participants?
What knowledge can participants take away from the conference?
Who should attend?
Conditions of participation
Information for Event Attendees
Program (09 November 2023)
Thursday, 09 November 2023
- 12:00
Opening | Introduction
Jan Mys and Andreas Oberhauser (double moderation) -
Section 1 (Ballast Condition, Behaviour & Simulation)
Moderation Section 1: David Villalmanzo (ADIF, ES) -
Presentation 1: Ballast materials (rock type, enviromental aspects, waste management, stability)
Christoph Kuttelwascher (ÖBB, AT) -
Presentation 2: Simulation Models and Ballast degradation
Jose Estaire (CEDEX, ES) -
Presentation 3: Modern ballast condition, detection and treatment methods
Olja Barbir (Plasser Purkersdorf, AT) -
Presentation 4: Problems of ballast regarding transitions of stiffness along track
Martin Li & Peter Zackrisson (Transverkeret, SWE) - 14:15 – 15:15
Coffee break
-
Section 2 (Ballast Management)
Moderation Section 2: Laurent Schmitt (SNCF, FR) -
Presentation 5: End-2-End process and KPIs for ballast management
Jan Mys (GR Consulting, BE) -
Presentation 6: Ballast problems on high-speed lines
Miguel Rodriguez Plaza (ADIF, ESP) -
Presentation 7: Ballast compaction methods
Dr. Sophie Nottbeck (DB Netz, DE) - 16:45 – 17:15
Coffee break
-
Presentation 8: Ballast problems in urban rail
Uwe Kutscher, BVG (DE) -
Presentation 9: Ballast condition monitoring and data analytics
Marc Ledet (SNCF Expert & Track Group Member of UIC; FR) - 19:00 – 22:00
Dinner / Get together
Program (10 November 2023 )
Friday, 10 November 2023
-
Section 3 (Construction and Execution)
Moderation Section 3: Walter Stahl (TU München) -
Presentation 10: Geotechnical view on the layers within superstructure (subgrade, geotextilles, ballast)
Fritz Kopf (FCP GmbH, AT) -
Presentation 11: Ballast Bonding
Adrian Hürlimann (Hürlimann Railtec, CH) -
Presentation 12: Elastic solutions for railway superstructure – state of the art and future
Thomas Gamsjäger (Getzner, AT) - 10:30 – 11:00
Coffee break
-
Presentation 13: Level Crossings in ballast track
Nevenka Vandenbossche (Infrabel, BE) -
Presentation 14: Challenges for track renewal at main line construction sites; executed at Heavy Haul Lines
Antonio Merheb (Chairman at IHHA and Consultant at MRS Logística S.A. in the Permanent Way Engineering Department; Brasil) - 12:30 – 13:00
Finale/Discussion/Closing
Jan Mys , Andreas Oberhauser, Detlev Suchanek - 13:00 – 15:00
Finger Food / Talk Time
What is the relevance of the conference topic for railways?
Ballast is a very important component for the track and therefore for the management of the whole track. It is very cost and resource intensive. During the universally demanded predictive maintenance, it is necessary to be able to assess the condition of the ballast at any time. You must be able to make forecasts for further maintenance and repair – under economic aspects.
What does the conference offer the participants?
The conference with its different perspectives on ballast offers an excellent insight into the modern methodology of how to measure, assess, manage, and replace ballast. Presented by experts from all over Europe.
Over 1.5 days, participants will be offered three thematic blocks:
Block 1 offers a comprehensive basic understanding of ballast:
- How is ballast constructed?
- How is ballast purchased?
- What are the criteria for ballast installation?
- Which materials (e.g., sieving, grains) are used?
- How can ballast be simulated?
Block 2 is dedicated to the different problems and applications for the respective railway system:
- High-speed lines
- Mainline lines
- Local transport lines
- Track crossings and special forms (such as points)
Block 3 Deals with the concrete measures for implementing the work on the construction site:
- How do I prepare these works sensibly?
- How can I carry out the work effectively and economically?
- Which steps have to be followed to get back to a high quality track?
What knowledge can participants take away from the conference?
- You will be brought up to date with the latest technology in terms of materials, resources, and standards.
- You will learn how effective ballast management can work.
- Get an overview of what modern working methods and construction techniques are available on the market.
- Industry participants also learn what the problems and challenges of their customers are.
- Measurement engineers will learn how to bring sensors into the ballast to make it measurable.
Who should attend?
- Employees at the railways who are responsible for the construction of new lines.
- Employees at railways and engineering offices who plan lines and determine track cross-sections.
- Employees at railways who are responsible for the maintenance and repair of track systems.
- Representatives of the relevant railway construction industry who supply mechanical tools for processing ballast (from manual tampers to large tamping machines and reconstruction trains).
- Representatives of ballast producers who want to know what their customers need.
- Representatives from academia and industry research departments.
Conditions of participation
Participant presence: EUR 590.00 plus VAT. | EUR 702.10 incl. VAT.
Participant Livestream: EUR 490.00 plus VAT | EUR 583.10 incl. VAT.
Participant Student presence: EUR 190.00 plus VAT | EUR 226.10 inc. VAT.
Participant Student Livestream:EUR 120.00 plus VAT / EUR 142.80 inc. VAT.
Participants who are Members of an association which belongs to the UEEIV (Union of European Railway Engineers) and ETPS (European Platform of Transport Sciences) get a discount of 10% from the fee.
Participant Livestream: EUR 490.00 plus VAT | EUR 583.10 incl. VAT.
Participant Student presence: EUR 190.00 plus VAT | EUR 226.10 inc. VAT.
Participant Student Livestream:EUR 120.00 plus VAT / EUR 142.80 inc. VAT.
Participants who are Members of an association which belongs to the UEEIV (Union of European Railway Engineers) and ETPS (European Platform of Transport Sciences) get a discount of 10% from the fee.
Information for Event Attendees
-
Event Location
Meliá Düsseldorf – (4* Superior)Inselstraße 2, 40479 Düsseldorfhttps://www.melia.com/de/hotels/deutschland/dusseldorf/melia-dusseldorf -
Distances
7 km to International Airport Düsseldorf0,1 km Subway station Nordstraße1 km to old town -
Logistics
The hotel has an underground garage with 60 parking spaces. The parking fee is EUR 2.50 per hour or you can choose a daily rate of EUR 25.Please note that parking spaces cannot be reserved in advance.Other parking facilities are located in the immediate vicinity. The nearest parking garage is located at Scheibenstraße 2, 40479 Düsseldorf. -
Event Accommodation
As event organizers, Global Rail Group has blocked a limited number of rooms for participants and event attendees in the same hotel.If you prefer to stay in Meliá Düsseldorf, these you can book one of the pre-blocked rooms till 27 September, 2023 (or subject to availability of the rooms), using the following link:Cost for a single room, per person, per night/incl. breakfast is EUR 135.Alternatively, here are some other hotel options in the area: -
Congress fee
The company jottkaa Projekt.Konzept GmbH is our event organization partner. Please note that due to this association, the participation fee has to be paid to the event account of the company jottkaa Projekt.Konzept that is mentioned on the invoice.Participant presence: EUR 590.00 plus VAT. | EUR 702.10 incl. VAT.Members reduced price: EUR 531.00 plus VAT. | EUR 631.89 incl. VAT.Participant Livestream: EUR 490.00 plus VAT | EUR 583.10 incl. VAT.Members reduced price: EUR 441.00 plus VAT. | EUR 524,79 incl. VAT.Participant Student presence: EUR 190.00 plus VAT | EUR 226.10 incl. VAT.Members reduced price: EUR 171.00 plus VAT. | EUR 203,49 incl. VAT.Participant Student Livestream: EUR 120.00 plus VAT | EUR 142,80 incl. VATMembers reduced price: EUR 108.00 plus VAT. | EUR 128,52 incl. VAT.Members of an association belonging to the UEEIV (Union of European Railway Engineers) and EPTS (European Platform of Transport Sciences) get can avail a 10% discount of the fee. -
Networking Dinner
On Thursday, 09 November, Global Rail Group invites you to a get-together and networking dinner,after day 01 of the event, at the Meliá Restaurant.
