The cost is more than just the track
Steel rail exposed to the Australian sun can reach temperatures far above ambient air temperature. As rail heats up it expands, and when that expansion has nowhere to go the track can buckle — forcing speed restrictions, delays and costly remediation across the network.
Solacoat heat-reflective coatings offer a practical way to manage rail temperature. By reflecting solar radiation rather than absorbing it, coated rail runs significantly cooler, reducing thermal expansion and the risk of heat-related track buckling.
Key benefits
• Lower rail surface temperatures on high-exposure corridors
• Reduced risk of track buckling and sun kinks
• Fewer heat-related speed restrictions and delays
• A durable coating suited to harsh remote and mining environments
If you are responsible for rail infrastructure in hot climates, we would welcome the opportunity to discuss how Solacoat can support your heat management strategy.
The coating is not new ....
In use since 2002, Solacoat is actively used by most of the major rail operators in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria and more recently in Perth to protect from heat related impact on rail tracks. During that time it has also been used internationally, mostly in the United States and the UK.
Carlington Line, NSW
Test results from a 20Km trial on the Carlington Line in 2002 by Rail Infrastructure Corporation
Field testing on the Carlingford Line in New South Wales demonstrated a substantial reduction in peak rail temperature following reflective treatment.
The results provide field evidence of the underlying principle: reducing absorbed solar radiation can materially reduce the peak temperature experienced by the rail.
Australian made.
Water-based latex.
Non-Hazardous