Then again, France is much smaller than the US and a Teoz train would be considered short-distance intericty by their standards.
22 lbs for a single bar is on the light side.
But the fishplate is disappearing species with the spread of welded rail. How probably is it that a main line passed for 90mph would still use fishplates?
I am well aware of that. However, they remain for insulated joints, although usually bonded (epoxy glued) with the primary purpose of the bolts being to hold the bars tight while the glue sets, and to be the safety if the bond breaks. These can be found in any track where an insulated joint is needed for signal purposes. Also,they are used to hold the rails in line temporarily until a field weld can be done.
How often does a 22-pound joint bar break?
Just a pedantic note on the above. Although correct in this instance, as the lignes a grande vitesses (LGV) have opened, TGV services have in most cases replaced older "slow" (200km/h) Corail services. That means you are now finding Corail cars being used on commuter services throughout France, under the TER branding. Between Strasbough and Colmar, for instance, there is regular 200km/h commuter service branded as TER 200.
In fact as far as I am aware, all previous generations of hauled coaching stock have been phased out, and no newer cars were acquired since Corail production ceased, so Corail remains the only type of coach for loco-hauled operation.
Then I guess joint bars aren't very strong.
So SNCF is doing the same thing the did in the UK, phasing out locomitves in favour of multiple units. Then they neglect the maintainence for trains no longer in production, and more accidents happen.
Hmmm. Trains can be derailed just by tinkering with a metal plate? Sounds way too easy.
AFAIK, train wheels only touch the very little flanged bit with the tracks so a tiny deviation could cause a huge accident, especially at high speeds.
