Rail Defects

1st edition, 2018-5

This IRS contains recommendations for identifying and classifying rail defects and compiling statistics.

These defects are coded, described and illustrated in the General Part - Handbook of Rail Defects.

This general coding defines a standard system for classifying broken, cracked and damaged rails according to the location, appearance and cause of the defects.

Each defect is given a number and is described on a sheet indicating the characteristics and appearance of the defect, explaining ways and means of detecting such defect, and giving recommendations as to what measures should be taken once it has been discovered in the track.