CEN/TC 154/WG 11 - Railway ballast

This document specifies the characteristics of aggregates for use in the construction of the upper layer (superstructure) of railway track.
With regard to the material source and production process, this document covers natural aggregate (see 3.1.3), manufactured aggregate (see 3.1.4), recycled aggregates (see 3.1.5), and mixtures of these materials.
Aggregates covered in this document are railway ballast (see 3.1.2).
Railway ballast refers to aggregates where 100 % of the surface of the particles can be described as totally crushed (see 3.1.2) and that are obtained by processing natural, manufactured materials or recycled crushed unbound aggregates.
Aggregates covered in this document are coarse aggregates (see 3.1.10).
Railway ballast resulting of previously used railway ballast on site and without putting it on the market (reused railway ballast) is not covered by this document.
This document does not cover:
—   natural and manufactured aggregates, having oven-dried particle density less than or equal to 2,00 Mg/m3, as they are already specified in prEN 13055:2021,
—   recycled aggregates, with particle densities less than 1,50 Mg/m3,
—   aggregates with a nominal upper size greater than 90 mm,
—   armourstone, as this is specified in prEN 13383-1:2021,
—   aggregates for construction works, as these are specified in prEN17555-1:2021,
—   use of aggregates contained within reclaimed bituminous mixtures, as the reclaimed asphalt for use as a constituent of bituminous mixtures is already specified in EN 13108 8:2016,
—   use of aggregates as soil,
—   use of aggregates in earthworks, as these are specified in EN 16907:2018, Parts 1 to 6.

This document provides non-contradictory complementary information that can be of use when producing or purchasing railway ballast according to the harmonized standard prEN 13450 1:2021.
NOTE   prEN 13450 1:2021 is also required to be read in conjunction with the Construction Products Regulation.
Reused railway ballast is not covered by this document.

This document specifies the characteristics of aggregates obtained by processing natural or manufactured materials or recycled crushed unbound aggregates for use in the construction of the upper layer of railway track. For the purposes of this document, the aggregate is referred to as railway ballast.
Assessment and Verification of the Constancy of Performance (AVCP) of railway ballast to this document are given in EN 16236.
Aggregates used in construction are meant to comply with the relevant European standards for aggregates. These standards include comprehensive and specific provisions for natural aggregates and recycled railway ballast, dealing with, for example, the stability of certain basalts.
Reused railway ballast is not covered by this document.

This European Standard specifies the properties of aggregates obtained by processing natural, manufactured or recycled crushed unbound aggregates for use in construction of the upper layer of railway track. For the purposes of this standard, the aggregate is referred to as railway ballast.
A list of the source materials that have been considered and are within the scope of this European Standard is given in Annex E (normative).
NOTE   Reused railway ballast: railway ballast resulting of previously used railway ballast on site and without putting it on the market is not covered by this European Standard.
It also specifies that a quality control system is in place for use in factory production control and it provides for the evaluation of conformity of the products to this European Standard.
It incorporates a general requirement that railway ballast should not release any dangerous substances in excess of the maximum permitted levels specified in a relevant European Standard for the material or permitted in the national regulations of the member state of destination.
Railway ballast used in construction should comply with all the requirements of this European Standard. The standard includes comprehensive and specific requirements for natural aggregates and recycled ballast, dealing with, for example, the stability of certain basalts.
For materials from some other secondary sources, however, work is ongoing and the requirements are incomplete. In the meantime such materials, when placed on the market as railway ballast, should conform fully to this standard but may also be required to conform to specific relevant additional requirements at the place of use. Additional characteristics and requirements may be specified on a case by case basis depending upon experience of use of the product, and defined in specific contractual documents.
Requirements for the declaration of the potential of railway ballast to release regulated dangerous substances are currently under development. Until such time as these are finalised, attention should be paid to requirements at the place of use.