Evolution of load conditions in the Norwegian railway network and imprecision of historic railway load data

Abstract

Abstract This article describes historic load conditions in the Norwegian railway network to improve estimates of the remaining service life of bridges. Data on rolling stock, traffic and infrastructure throughout the history of the railway are presented. Axle loads, geometry, design, composition and operation of both passenger and freight trains have changed several times since the initial construction. The capacities of both rolling stock and infrastructure influence the load conditions in a railway network. Historic loads may have been more severe than modern loads for certain structural details. A probability distribution of load variables for a specific bridge cannot be obtained in the general case. Future research directions and suggestions for the use of non-probabilistic data in estimating the service life of bridges are discussed.