The aim of the study is to improve and upgrade the current operational speed from 60 km/h to 80 km/h on existing freight line of Saudi Railways Organization (SRO) network with upgraded infrastructure and higher axle load, the existing freight line currently running with a speed of 60 km/h with an axle load 22.5 ton, rail type UIC 54 Continuous Welded Rails (CWR), Pre Stressed Concrete (PSC) sleepers, the reason to increase the speed from 60 km/h to 80 km/h is because of the demands of freight transportation (containers transportation from eastern region to the central region), in order to enhance the speed a solution was proposed by the SRO management to conduct a study for increasing the speed to meet the upcoming higher volume of freight containers transportation within a limited time period, same time to increase the axle load to bear double containers freight traffic.
Monitoring of the existing railway track was done by Engineering Survey team, operational speed was recorded in different locations with higher and lower gradient points, data of axle pressure was accorded from rolling stock department to establish a new proposal for increasing speed and axle load.
The proposed solution will effect on the existing freight line, it will requires to upgrade the existing track infrastructure (rails, sleepers, ballast profile, curves, culverts and bridges etc.), it will also effect on the cost of current budget as a result of upgradation and maintenance of existing railway track, it will ultimately an economic benefit from the increasing freight transportation of SRO.

railway, speed, safety