POWER RAIL TRACK WORKING PRACTICE

1. Introduction
Power rail track (PRT) is an integral tool of inroads software. The drawing work space is Microstation.
When PRT is started, one can see a Microstation window with Inroads Tools. Along with it another
sub window opens which consists the PRT tools.

The PRT window consists of four fields

Menu Bar Where PRT Menus are Located

Working Bar Where PRT entities such as surface, Geometry, etc are displayed. This is the
control Centre of PRT

Feedback pane Where Details about the selected entity in the working bar is shown

Status Bar Where the message regarding the last operation performed in PRT is shown.
Whenever a PRT Tool is used to create /Modify elements, this bar displays Accept/Reject
message. A left click accepts the task performed and changes are incorporated and a right
click rejects the change and the PRT data remains unchanged.
2. Opening PRT
To start a PRT project a cad file is required. The cad file will be the base working Microstation file. If
there is not any cad file available a new cad file can be created in the dialog box opened during
initialising PRT.

In PRT, each entities such as surface, alignment, cross section templates etc are saved as individual
files. So each time PRT is opened the files associated with the project have to be opened separately.
An alternative is to create a Project file (.rwk) file in which references to the files to be opened can
be added. The project file is discussed in detail in coming sections. A brief introduction on the file
types associated with PRT is discussed prior to it.

2.1. File types Associated with PRT

2.1.1. Surface File (.dtm)
The surface file consists of elements related to Digital Terrain Model of the surface.

2.1.2. Geometry Project (.alg)

Geometry project files consists of Geometry Data. Vertical Alignment and Cant are considered as
child components of Horizontal alignment. A Horizontal alignment is required to design vertical
alignment and Cant. More than one vertical design / Cant design can be created under a Horizontal
alignment and user can set the active Vertical design/Cant design for the current session of Design
process.
2.1.3. Template Library File (.itl)
PRT is a template based software in which a corridor cross section is defined by templates. The
templates consists of cross section details as end conditions (embankment slope), cross section
components (such as provision of ditch, etc.).

2.1.4. Roadway Design File (.ird)

The Roadway designer files are saved as .ird files. These files stores details pertaining to creation of
a corridor. The details as to, which template to be applied between which two chainages, over riding
template parameters, etc are stored in these files.

2.1.5. Project file (.rwk).

Instead of opening the set of geometry files, surface files, template files, and other PRT files
separately every time a PRT is opened, a project file can be created which saves information
regarding the files that are to be opened for a specific project. No PRT data is stored in the file. They
only consist of pointers to the specific files that need to be opened.

2.1.6. Preference file (.xin)

Preference files store preference details. The preferences (settings) on display style, Alignment
annotation, report creation, etc need not be set each time. Instead the preferences can be saved as
a .xin file. The preferences that need to be set for almost every dialog box appearing in PRT can be
saved in preference file.

Working with PRT Prelims

Before getting to know about various tools in PRT it is useful to understand the working
environment of PRT.

Initialising the PRT software is already discussed earlier. Once the software is initialised the
necessary Surface files(.dtm), Alignment files(.Alg), Template files (.itl), Roadway designer files (.ird),
Preference files(.xin), and other files, if any, are to be opened separately.

2.2. Opening Files in PRT

To open these files, in PRT Window Goto

File Open

The open dialog box appears. Select the required file format and the required file respectively
Once the files are opened they will be visible in the working pane of the PRT tool box as shown
below.
If any file is opened by mistake, the same can be closed by right clicking on the file and click close.
When any change is made to any of the PRT Data set, they need to be saved promptly to avoid losing
changes. PRT does not save automatically. If any change is done in Alignment, to keep the changes
the geometry need to be saved. Else the changes will not be incorporated. To save any data set in
PRT window click

File save Data set to be saved.

If all of the data set are not to be saved and only specific data set files are to be saved then the same
can be done by right clicking the data set file from the working bar. For example if only one
geometry file need to be saved among numerous geometry files opened, then the specific geometry
file visible in the working bar can be right clicked and saved.
It is laborious to open each file separately for the same Design task every time PRT is opened. To
facilitate opening all required files pertaining to a design task, a project file (.rwk) can be created.

2.3. Creating a Project file

The required PRT files need to be opened prior to the creation of a project file.

In PRT Window Goto

File Save As

The save as dialog box opens. In the File type select Projects(.rwk)

Specify a name for the project. Before clicking save option it is important to specify the files that
are to be saved in the project file. Click Options button. The project options dialog box opens
The files that need to be saved in the project file are marked (X shown in the project options dialog
box). If only ADD is chosen, only the file path of the specific files gets added to the project file.
Saving the project file have no impact on the included files. If Update option is chosen, then each
time the project file is saved, the included files also gets saved and changes made in the included
files are updated.

Toggle buttons on the top for including files from different fields.

2.4. Clearing the screen.

To clear a PRT element from the screen, the element can be selected and deleted (Does not delete
the element from PRT Data set). Alignments and triangulations dont get selected as a group when a
single click is made on them. Only the particular polyline on which the click is made gets selected. To
select them as a whole, the graphic group option needs to be activated from the active locks icon
available at the bottom centre of microstation window.
This method consumes a lot of time if the element has too many poly lines as in the case of
triangulations. The best practice is to create separate drawings with only specific data set. These
drawings can be added as reference drawings to current drawing.

For example, a surface triangulation can be saved in one dgn file, a set of alignments can be saved in
another dgn file, and another set of alignments can be saved in a third dgn file. When working, the
dgn files can be added as reference file to the current drawing. When the elements need to be
displayed, the display of the dgn file can be kept on and when not required it can be kept off. This
way it saves time in displaying large data sets.
PRT has the ability to identify its elements from reference file too. PRT does not necessitate that the
element need to be in the current drawing for it to identify the element.

The microstation cursor does not snap to PRT elements when a PRT tool is activated. For the snap to
work when a PRT tool is active, hold keys Ctrl+Shift.
3. Surfaces
The PRT saves the survey data in the surface file and dynamically establishes a triangulated surface.
The survey data also called as surface features, as per user input, is saved in to the following feature
types

Random All points are saved in random features. Random features have no direct relationship to other
points. Example of a random feature is spot levels.

Break line Feature Break line features are linear poly line features such as Carriageway edge, centre line,
kerb etc. When a poly line is imported in to PRT as break line feature, No triangulation lines cross the
feature. When Carriageway edge is imported as a breakline feature, it can be ensured that no point inside
the carriageway will have a direct triangulation line to a point outside the carriageway.

Contour Feature

Interior When a feature is define as interior, no triangles are formed inside them. Example Building
lines

Exterior When a feature is defined as exterior, no triangles are formed outside the feature, example
Boundary lines.
3.1. Importing Surface data
Surface data can be imported in the following ways

Import from graphics

Import from graphics advanced
Import DEM
Import ASCII Format
Land XML

Before importing surface features by any method, a surface file has to be created by either of the
methods

A. File New Surface or

B. Right click on surface icon in the Working bar and click New

3.1.1. Import from graphics

For Importing Surface through this method

Open the drawing file containing the survey features. In the PRT window Click.

FileImportSurface

The import Surface Dialog box opens with three tabs on it. From Graphics| DEM|From Geometry

The From graphics Tab is selected

In the Surface field the surface file to which the features are to be imported is selected.

In the Load from field, the appropriate selection is made. If single element is selected, the software
enables to import features by selecting each element one by one and clicking apply each time a feature
is selected. If Level is selected, the software imports all features of the same specified level. If fence
is selected, the software imports all features inside a predefined fence. A fence is created from Tasks
pane available in Microstation window. If not visible in Microstation window click Tools Tasks.

In the Seed Name field a seed name for the features to be imported is specified (if P given, software
automatically increments for each import as P1,P2,)

The feature style as per requirement has to be selected.

3.1.2. Import from Graphics Advanced

This method enables user to import surface elements by a set of rules/filters.

The option can be accessed by clicking

File Import Surface Advanced in the PRT window

The Import Surface Advanced Dialog box appears

Select the surface file to which the import has to be done.

In the Load From drop down box, three options are available,

All Imports elements from entire drawing after applying the filters

Fence - Imports elements inside a fence after applying the filters. See 3.1.1 to create fence.

Single Element Import by selecting each element manually. The element gets imported if it satisfies
the set of rules.
Click New to create a named rule set and enter a name for the Rule set.

Once the Rule set is created, in the rules field right click to add rules.

The New Import Rule Dialog box appears. Specify a name for the import rule. Provide the seed name
for the elements that are to be imported. Specify feature style and point type (Random breakline,
contour, interior & Exterior).
Once the general details are provided, click Selection criteria. Select the list of properties by which
elements are to be filtered. Specify filters for each of the selected properties.

Likewise number of Import rules can be added to a specific rule set. When done adding rules to the
rule set, click apply for importing the elements.
3.1.3. Import DEM
Sometimes Digital Elevation Models (DEM) are readily available from specific agencies. The files can
be imported as surface and can be used in design.

To import DEM File Click in PRT Window

File Import Surface

Import Surface dialog box appears. Select DEM tab

Specify the Surface file to which the DEM is to be imported. Specify the file path of the location of
DEM file and click Apply.

3.1.4. Import ASCII format

Surface data available in ASCII format can be imported in to PRT using Text Import Wizard (TIW).

Click File Text Import Wizard in the PRT Window

The Text Import Wizard Dialog box appears.

Select a saved import wizard format if available. If importing for the first time select in Wizard Name
Field option <New>. In Data Type select Surface as surface is to be imported. Specify the file path
of the ASCII file and click OK. The wizard prompts for various information such as start and End of
the part of the document to be imported, Data Delimiter Type, etc. When all the information are
provided correctly, the surface is imported.

3.1.5. Import From Land XML.

To import surface Data available as Land XML data type in to PRT, click

File Translators LandXML translator

The LandXML dialog box appears.

Click Browse and specify the file path. Provide Feature Seed Name and Click Apply to import.

It is important that after importing surface by any of the above discussed methods the Surface file
has to be saved from file menu or by right clicking on the surface and selecting Save from the
Working Bar. PRT does not save data automatically.

3.2. View Surface.

After importing the surface features, create triangulation by clicking

Surface Triangulate or Right click on the surface available in the Working Bar. From the list of
options available click Triangulate.

To view the surface click Surface View Surface

From the list of options choose the required type such as triangulation, contours, etc, in which the
surface has to be displayed.

3.3. Manipulation of Surface

The surface can be edited and manipulated using Design Surface and Edit surface options available
in the Surface Menu on the PRT window.
4. Horizontal Alignment
4.1. Create an ALG File
Before commencing an alignment deign, a Geometry project has to be created. To create a new
Geometry Project click

File New in the PRT window

The New dialog box opens. Select the Geometry Tab. In the Type field select Geometry Project.
Provide a name for the Geometry Project and Click apply.

A geometry project is created and can be seen in the Working bar in PRT window
To save it in an .ALG file, click FileSave As . The Save as dialog Box opens. In the Save as type
select geometry projects. Specify the file path and file name. Click Save.

An .ALG file is created. Any alignment design including vertical alignment design and Cant design will
be saved in this file. In the Next session of PRT, when this .ALG file is opened, all alignment data saved
in this file will be loaded. Multiple .ALG files can be opened and saved in the same session.

Several Geometry Projects can be created in the same .ALG file. Several Horizontal Alignment can
be created under each of the Geometry Project. Several Vertical alignment and Cant can be
created under each Horizontal Alignment.
A New Horizontal Alignment can be created by clicking File New in the PRT window. In the select
type field select Horizontal Alignment. A New Horizontal Alignment is created under the active
Geometry Project.

A New Vertical Alignment can be created by clicking File New in the PRT window. In the select type
field select Vertical Alignment. A New Vertical Alignment is created under the active Horizontal
Alignment.

A New Cant design can be created by clicking File New in the PRT window. In the select type field
select Cant. A New Cant design is created under the active Horizontal Alignment.

When there are numerous Geometry projects/Alignments, the software needs to know the geometry
project/Alignment in which the work is being done. Hence it is important that before commencing any
operation the Active Geometry project Alignment has to be specified. To set geometry
project/Alignment, right click the geometry project/Alignment available in the Working bar and click
Set Active.

4.2. Creating a Horizontal Alignment

Before commencing Horizontal alignment design, a new horizontal Alignment has to be created in
which the design will be saved. Set the Horizontal alignment as Active.

Horizontal Alignment Can be done by two Methods.

A. PI Method
B. Element Method
4.2.1. PI Method.
In this method Horizontal Alignment is created by means of Horizontal Intersection points.

The Tool can be accessed from

Geometry Horizontal Curve set in the PRT Window

To open the options in a separate tool box

Click Tools Customize. From the list of toolbars available select Horizontal Curve set.

The curve details are provided by either Define Curve option or Table editor Option

There is an option to add special Points to the alignment called as Event Points . These may be
important points such as start/End of bridge, location of piers, etc. The Event Points can be added by
the option available in the tool or through Text Import Wizard Available in File Menu. The Event
Points are similar to Special chainages in MX.

The option to slide an IP along a tangent is not available in the toolbox. This may be achieved by
use of Accudraw feature of Microstation.

To slide an IP along a tangent Activate Accudraw in the Microstation Window. If Toggle Accudraw
icon is available, right click on any tool in the microstation window and select Toggle Accudraw
option. Click in the Accudraw Input text box found at the bottom of Microstation window and type
RE (Abbrev. For Rotate Element).

Then click on the tangent of the curve along which the IP has to slide. Use Move IP option and the
Accudraw cursor guides to slide the IP along the tangent as shown in below figure
4.2.2. Element Method
The Tools for Horizontal Alignment design by element method can be accessed from

Geometry Horizontal Element. A separate tool box can be opened From Tools Customize.

The Check Integrity tool is used to ensure if all elements created by this method are properly
connected.

4.2.3. Importing Horizontal Geometry.

Horizontal file from other formats can be imported into PRT.

If the Horizontal alignment is available as cad drawing, it can be imported into PRT by the following
steps

Open the drawing file containing the alignment as poly line.

Click File Import From Graphics in the PRT Window.
Specify a Name for the Horizontal Alignment
The software prompts to select the Poly line to be imported.
Select the Polyline that is to be imported as alignment. The Polyline is highlighted. The
software prompts to accept or reject the selection.
Left click to accept the selection and the polyline will be imported to the active Horizontal
Alignment. Right click toggles the selection to other polylines very close to the selected
polyline. If none, the selection is rejected.

When importing a polyline as Alignment in PRT, it is to be made sure that all elements are tangential
to the connecting elements. If not, the software imports the polyline but no design operations could
be performed.

When there are transition spirals in the imported alignment, the spirals are considered as tiny bits of
straights. To rectify them, right click the imported alignment in the Working Bar and click check
integrity option.
The Check Horizontal integrity dialog box opens. Identify the straights with tiny lengths. Select them
and right click. From the options available select Delete.

In the similar manner delete all spirals that are imported as tiny straights. A gap is formed between
each straight and curves. To fill the gaps with transitions, click
 Geometry Horizontal Element Define Spiral.

The Define Horizontal Spiral Dialog Box appears.

Select Type as Clothoid and mark the check box Replace and Fill All Gaps. Click apply. The software
prompts to select star and End Element. Select the elements. All discontinuities are filled with
transition curves.

4.2.4. Importing Land XML file

To Import a Horizontal Alignment in LandXml File. Click

File Translators LandXML Translator

Specify the LandXML file by clicking Browse and click apply.

5. Cant Design
Cant of a horizontal curve is obtained by the below formula

2
=
127
Where,

G = Gauge of rails

V = Design Speed of the section

R = Radius of Curve.

In the formula is called as equilibrium constant. While computing Cant, most of the railway
127
agencies do not recommend to adopt the full equilibrium constant in computing the Cant Design.
Instead, only a fraction of equilibrium constant is used to determine Cant. This factored constant is

called as Applied constant (127 ).

Prior to Cant design, these values have to be entered in the project settings. To change the values click

File Project Options and choose Rail Tab.

To design Cant for a Horizontal Alignment, create a new Cant under the Horizontal alignment. And
then Click

Geometry Superelevation Cant Editor

or

Right click on the Cant Alignment available in the Working Bar and select Edit.

The Cant Alignment Editor dialog box opens.

Click on Define All button, the Define Cant Alignment dialog box appears.

Choose a Cant method among the four.

Use Equilibrium Equations - The software determines cant for the entire stretch using
Equillibrium equations
Use Alternative Design speed This option is used to modify a designed Cant to change the
design speed
Look up Cant from Table This option uses a user defined table to lookup for Cant value.
The Lookup file is a text file consisting of a list of radius in metre (m) against Cant in Millimeter
(mm). The software does not interpolate values, instead adopts the Cant value of the sharper
curve radius unless Interpolate Cant option is not selected.
Station speed and Cant Table This is manual method of designing Cant Alignment. A text
file containing Station, Design speed and Cant to be applied is created in the below format,
Station<space>Design Speed<space>Cant
The software applies the Cant Values to the Alignment.
When the Cant is defined as above, the Applied Cant values are displayed in the Cant
Alignment Editor Dialog box. Any individual chainage can then be modified by clicking Edit
button.
6. Turnout
Turnouts can be placed in PRT, by using default turnouts available in the Turnout Library or create a
new Turnout in the Turnout Template Library.

To acces Turnout Tools click

Geometry Turnouts

Or Open as Toolbox from

Tools Customize and select Turnout in the list of Tools

6.1. Creating a new Turnout Type

To create a new Turnout Click

Geometry Turnouts Turnout Library or Click the Turnout Library icon in the Turnout
Toolbox

The Turnout Library Dialog Box Appears

Click New in the Dialog Box and create a New Turnout. A new Turnout template will be created.
Select the turnout from the dropdown box in the Name field. All values in the dialog box appears 0.
The values for the Turnout variables are provided by the manufacturer/Railway organisation.

6.1.1. Details of the Turnout Variables.

In PRT the Actual toe of switch is denoted as .1, Intersection Point as .0 and Heel of Mainline crossing
as .2 and that of branch crossing as .3. The same can be seen on clicking the schematic button in the
dialog box. The explanation of the various variables to be provided in the Turnout Library is as below.

Type Type of Crossing as Single, Double, Single slip, Double slip, Diamond.

Length Along Mainline Total length of the turnout from Actual Nose of Switch to Heel of crossing

Triangle Length Length between Intersection point to Heel of Crossing.

Ratio at .0 / Angle at .0 The angle between mainline and Branch line expressed in ratio 1:n (n is also
called as the number of Turnout). Angle at .0 is mentioned as Degrees, Minutes and seconds.

Ratio at .1 / Angle at .1 The angle between mainline and the Tongue rail at the toe of the switch
expressed in ratio 1:n. Angle at .1 is mentioned as Degrees, Minutes and seconds. This is also called as
switch angle.

Once these details are entered, the branching out geometry of the turnout from the toe of the switch
to the heel of the crossing at branching rail has to be mentioned in the Branch Geometry field.

Once all data for turnout is specified, click on verify button, the message bar displays Successful
Completion, if data is consistent. If any inconsistencies in the data, Turnout Definition is inaccurate
message is displayed.

6.2. Placing Turnout on Alignment

To place a turnout on an alignment click

GeometrTutnoutsCreate New Turnout or click Create New Turnout icon in the turnouts tool
box. The Create Turnout dialog box appears.
Select the Alignment from the drop down or using the pick icon adjacent to it. Specify all other
details in the dialog box and click apply. It is to be noted that the Name field in the dialog box is the
name of the turnout placed on a specific alignment at a specific chainage. It is not same as the Name
field in the Turnout Library Dialog Box. Style field of the create turnout dialog box corresponds to
the Name field in the Turnout Library Dialog Box. Instead of manually entering the values,
Interactive button can be used as described below,

The software prompts to select the alignment

The chainage at which the turnout has to be placed is chosen. It can be seen on the screen,
the turnout moving along the alignment as the cursor is hovered.
When the chainage is chosen, the direction of the turnout has to be specified, Left/Right and
forward/reverse (North West click = Forward Left).
Left click to accept or Right click to undo and place anew. When the placement is accepted, it
can be seen in the work bar the turnout is listed under the active Horizontal alignment.

6.3. Creating a cross over.

When a simple crossover has to be created from a turnout, the Create Connection option can be

used. Click Geometry Turnout Create Connection or click Create Connection icon in the
Turnouts Toolbar. The Create Connectiion dialog box appears.
Specify the ending turnout name, Type, style and the alignment on to which the connection has to be
made. The Length and Radius in the Connection field are to be provided with seed values. The value
for radius has to be specified when the turnout is in curve. Only one solution is possible for connecting
two turnouts with a single element. A crossover is created from an existing turnout.

To create a complex crossover with more than one geometrical elements between two turnouts, the
Connection Editor tool has to be used. The Connection editor tool bar has four options for
establishing connections

Turnout - Establish a Connection between Two Turnouts

Element - Establish a Connection between a Turnout to start/End of a different Alignment
Station To Establishing a connection Between turnout to a different alignment at a defined
chainage.
Free End To create a free end alignment from a turnout.

To access connection editor click Geometry Turnout Connection Editor or click the Connection
Editor Icon in the Turnouts Tool box.
The Connection Edtior dialog box appears.

To connect two turnout select Turnout in the Ending Connection field

Select originating Turnout and Ending Turnout.

In the connecting elements field, right click and from the list select Add After/Add Before to add
the elements that will have to connect the two turnouts. The Add Element After / Add Element
before dialog is displayed.
Add any element among the three available in the dropdown box. Specify the elements parameters.
As many number of elements required for the connection can be added.

In the dialog box specify free and fixed parameters. When a parameter is set to free, its value is
adjusted while the software searches for a solution. If not set to free, the parameter value is kept fixed
and solution is derived based on the fixed values. The Target option available with every Linear
Alignment enables the user to mention the bearing at which the linear element has to be
maintained. If station of the turnout is set to free, the software finds a solution by moving the turnout
whose station is set free. It is important to provide only the sufficient number of free elements such
that a unique solution can be obtained. If too many free parameters are provided, there will be more
than one possible solution and software displays message Too many free Parameters. If less free
parameters are provided, the software will be unable to arrive at a solution as it is indeterminate.
When proper inputs are provided and a determinate solution can be derived the, software creates an
alignment with the mentioned elements connecting the two turnouts.
7. Vertical Alignment
Vertical alignment can be done in two methods in PRT

VIP Method and

Element Method

To begin vertical alignment in PRT, a profile set has to be created. To create a Profile set, create a
vertical alignment file and set it as active. Then click

Evaluation Profile Create Profile

The Create Profile dialog box appears.

In the General Tab, in the name field, provide a name for the profile set.

Enter values for Horizontal and Vertical Exaggeration.

Mark the surfaces to be added to the profile set.

Click apply. The Software prompts for the location where the profile set has to be placed.

Choose a point and click. A profile set is created and the surface lines can be viewed.
Begin Horizontal Alignment in the work space either by

IP method by clicking

Geometry Vertical Curve Set

The Tool box can be opened from

Tools Customize and Selecting Vertical Curve Set

Element Method by clicking

Geometry Vertical Element

The Tool box can be opened from

Tools Customize and Selecting Vertical Element

When vertical profile is completed by any of the above methods, the alignment file has to be saved to
avoid losing data.
8. Annotation
To View Stations of Horizontal Alignment Click

Geometry View Geometry Stationing

From the list of options in the view stationing field, choose the stations to be displayed.

The Stationing of the horizontal alignment are displayed. From preferences a .xin file can be loaded
which has the saved settings. When the display drawing is deleted and the alignment is redisplayed,
the stationings do not reappear. For the stations to be displayed everytime the alignment is displayed
click

Geometry View Geometry Options

The Geometry Options dialog box appears. Select the annotations that needs to be displayed
whenever the alignment is displayed and click apply. The Software slows down when more options
are chosen to be displayed.

To Annotate Horizontal Alignment click

Geometry View Geometry Horizontal Annotation

The View Horizontal Dialog box appears. Choose the required annotations and click apply. If a
preference file is available, load the file and annotate.

To Annotate Horizontal Alignment Curves only click

Geometry View Geometry Curve Set Annotation. The IP points are annotated in this option.
This option provides more detail of curves than the Horizontal Annotation tool.

To Annotate Vertical Alignment click

Geometry View Geometry Vertical Annotation.