Tram rail networks offer an environmentally friendly means of transport for many inner cities, where rails are set in roads and pavements allowing trams to operate in the same areas as vehicles and buses.
However, having tramline rails embedded into the roads and pathways poses a problem for repair and maintenance procedures in areas most prone to wear, such as tight corners. Furthermore, the costs and time associated with replacing these parts of the tramline rails are costly and disruptive.
To deal with this, weld restoration of worn, embedded grooved rails offers the most viable, cost effective approach to extend the lifetime of the track. Weld rebuilding can take place in situ without the need to remove the rails at a significant cost, leading to disruptions and adverse environmental impact.