Eric Magel
National Research Council, Canada

Jonathan Regehr
University of Manitoba

Rail corrugation is a natural process arising in transit systems due to the confluence of wheel/rail wear and vibration of vehicle-track components. Since wear is unavoidable and all mechanical components vibrate, rail corrugation is a very common affliction and is the cause of further vibration and often noise. Although there are ways to minimize corrugation growth, it is typically very persistent and is cause for regular preventive maintenance. But is it preventable? We will present several case studies and discuss the various treatments and their effectiveness. Recent efforts to measure, quantify and set maintenance limits will also be reviewed.