Thetrack bed ortrackbed is the groundwork onto which arailway track is laid. Trackbeds of disused railways are sometimes used forrecreational paths or newlight rail links.
According toNetwork Rail, the trackbed is the layers ofballast andsub-ballast above a preparedsubgrade/formation (see diagram). It is designed primarily to reduce the stress on the subgrade.
Other definitions include the surface of the ballast on which the track is laid,[1] the area left after a track has been dismantled and the ballast removed[1] or the track formation beneath the ballast and above the natural ground.[2]
The trackbed can significantly influence the performance of the track, especiallyride quality of passenger services.
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