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Railway construction

Railway construction: reinforcement, separation, drainage, filtration and sealing for track and earthworks

From subgrade improvement and base-course reinforcement to earthworks sealing, drainage and liner protection, Naue supplies the geosynthetic solution for every part of the railway trackbed and earth structure. Naue’s Secugrid®, Combigrid®, Secutex®, Secudrain®, Bentofix® and Carbofol® products - many with Deutsche Bahn HPQ approval under DBS 918 039 - reinforce, separate, filter, drain and seal, keeping track geometry stable and structures durable, backed by full conformity documentation.

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Earthworks reinforcement

Reinforcement in railway earth structures refers to the installation of geogrids and geocomposites in the formation, embankments and slopes of a railway line. It increases bearing capacity, limits differential settlement and ensures the stability of the earth structure.

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Filtration and separation

Filtration and separation in railway earthworks cover three functions defined in DBS 918 039: filter elements in drainage installations, separation and filter elements beneath base courses, and nonwovens for formation improvement directly under the ballast on existing lines.

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Sealing and liner protection

Sealing in railway earth structures refers to the installation of a low-permeability barrier in railway embankments, cuttings and associated earthworks. It prevents railway runoff, which can carry fuel, herbicides and de-icing agents, from reaching groundwater.

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Backfill zone drainage

Drainage in railway backfill zones refers to the controlled removal of seepage water from the backfill behind railway structures such as retaining walls, bridge abutments and cut-and-cover tunnels.

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Railway construction: frequently asked questions

Yes. The relevant Secugrid®, Combigrid®, Secutex®, Secudrain®, Bentofix® and Carbofol® products hold Deutsche Bahn HPQ approval under DBS 918 039, each assigned to specific application cases (e.g. 3.6, 3.7/3.8, 3.11, 3.12). Full conformity documentation is supplied.

Secugrid® and Combigrid® geogrids interlock with the granular base course, distributing dynamic train loads and reducing lateral spreading. This increases bearing capacity, reduces the required layer thickness and limits settlement and track geometry loss over the service life.

Under repeated dynamic loading, fine-grained subgrade material migrates upward into the ballast, degrading drainage and track geometry. An approved Secutex® geotextile or Combigrid® geocomposite installed beneath the ballast separates the layers and prevents fines migration.

Drainage composites in contact with cementitious elements such as concrete abutments and shotcrete are exposed to high-alkalinity pore water. Secudrain® variants with high alkali resistance maintain in-plane flow capacity in these environments, preventing hydrostatic pressure and frost damage.

Yes. Bentofix® GCLs and Carbofol® HDPE geomembranes seal embankments and cut slopes to protect groundwater in water protection zones, both approved by Deutsche Bahn for the relevant application cases.

Secutex® nonwoven geotextiles are installed above and/or below the liner to resist puncture, abrasion and shear generated by ballast and dynamic traffic, preserving the integrity of the sealing barrier.