An innovative and resilient insulated rail joint for all applications

A new insulated rail joint (IRJ), called Absolutely Better Joint (ABJ) is introduced in the paper. The paper describes the problems that all IRJs encounter during operation are briefly described, and the idea behind the development of a new concept of joint is details. The design and the testing phases of the ABJ are then shown, the goal being that of obtaining a joint without any dip in the endpost region ensuring a smooth and seamless transition between the rails forming the joint. The use of a thick baseplate, a unique patented feature, gives the joint an exceptional strength. All the performed tests, both electrical and mechanical, confirmed the exceptional strength of the joint that was one of the design targets. The ABJ is made of standard components and is applicable to a wide variety of situations, from mainline tracks to regional railways. Metro may take benefit as well, as the ABJ in noise and vibrations free, making it a perfect candidate for urban environment. These properties make the ABJ a potentially disruptive enhancement in the IRJ sector. The ABJ is currently under pre-production and a number of potential users expressed their interest in the product. For its characteristics, the ABJ may be developed for any rail type for which a shallow-depth switch rail is available.