ROWA (RAILONE Washable Apron)
Washable track apron solution for clean, safe passenger station areas
Key Advantages
Closed track surface
through close-spaced wide sleepers, joint covers, and platform gap backfill
Washable
using water jetting for fast, effective cleaning
Self-draining
design that directs water and waste toward a central collection channel
Cost-efficient
solution using prefabricated sleepers
Consistent gauge control
track gauge defined by the wide sleeper geometry
Fast installation
with repeatable construction steps
Simplified site logistics:
bearing layer installed first without obstacles in the track; compatible with standard road and track machinery
Flexible bearing layer options:
Asphalt: shorter hardening/curing time
Concrete: reduced machinery requirements on site (as specified)
Long service life
with durable components
Maintainability:
sleepers and other system components can be replaced at any time
A key advantage of RHEDA CITY® is its unobtrusive design—it blends into the streetscape while delivering low maintenance, excellent ride comfort, high load capacity, and robust safety. Based on the proven RHEDA family principle, RHEDA CITY® is engineered specifically for mass rapid transit and excels on tram networks and surface commuter rail.
- Urban tramways and surface commuter lines
- Mixed traffic streets and constrained urban corridors
- Projects requiring low structural height and long service life
- Monolithic, ballastless slab with low installed structural height for tight urban envelopes
- Modified bi‑block sleepers with lattice trusses for fast installation and precise gauge control
- Turnout integration: turnouts can be implemented within the same RHEDA CITY® construction method for a consistent system approach
- Compatible with asphalt, concrete, or paving blocks—for seamless street integration
- RHEDA CITY® GREEN available for grassed/green track aesthetics and additional environmental benefits
ROWA is designed for mainline station areas, specifically in the passenger platform / apron zone, where cleanliness, drainage, and maintainability are critical. The system creates a closed, washable track surface that enables fast and effective cleaning with water jetting—helping operators keep platform-adjacent track areas hygienic and visually tidy. A key design element is the special sleeper geometry, which guides cleaning water and debris toward a central collection channel, supporting controlled drainage and efficient waste removal.
ROWA is suited for:
- Mainline stations in the platform apron zone
- High-traffic passenger environments where regular washing/cleaning is required
- Locations where a closed surface and defined drainage path improve safety and maintenance
ROWA is a directly supported track system built “bottom-up” with special concrete wide sleepers (CWS 13) installed on a bearing layer.
- Bottom-up slab track construction
- Asphalt or concrete bearing layer (project-dependent)
- Wide sleepers (CWS 13) at close spacing to form a closed surface
- Surface detailing such as joint covers and platform gap backfill to complete the apron finish
In short: the system is engineered to combine station-ready surface integration with robust track performance and straightforward maintenance.
Key features
- Bottom-up slab track system
- Asphalt- or concrete-based bearing layer
- Design axle load: up to 25 t
- Design speed: up to 200 km/h
- Based on the proven German GETRAC® A3 concept (derivative)
- Design and dimensioning aligned with German ballastless track requirements
Key features
- Type: pre-stressed wide sleeper
- Sleeper spacing: 0.6 m
- Dimensions (L/W/H): 2.6 / 0.57 / 0.22–0.27 m
(height depends on the fastening system) - Weight: approx. 600 kg
- Fastening systems:Pandrol e-clip or Vossloh 300-1
- Height adjustment possible