Railway engineering – definition check In railway track geometry, the amount by which the outer rail (on a curve) is raised above the inner rail to counteract centrifugal effects is called super-elevation. Assess the statement.

Introduction / Context:
On curved railway tracks, trains experience lateral acceleration that tends to throw vehicles outward. To provide comfort and reduce flange wear, the outer rail is raised relative to the inner rail. This intentional raising is termed super-elevation (also called cant). The statement asks whether this definition is correct.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Track is a standard two-rail system on a horizontal curve.
• Vehicle speed is finite; lateral acceleration may exist.
• We are discussing geometric design terminology, not construction tolerances.

Concept / Approach:
Super-elevation e is the height difference between outer and inner rails. It partially balances the centrifugal component m*v^2/R by tilting the track plane so that a share of the lateral component becomes a component of weight. The fundamental concept is geometric and independent of country or code; symbols and design limits vary by standard, but the definition does not.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Highway and railway engineering share the same idea for superelevation/cant on curves—terminology aligns: it is always the deliberate raising of the outer edge/rail relative to the inner.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Disagree: contradicts the standard definition found across rail design texts.
• Only true for high-speed lines: super-elevation exists on many curves, not just high-speed.
• True only on reverse curves: applied to any curve where design justifies cant.

Common Pitfalls:
Confusing super-elevation with transition length, gauge widening, or crossfall on straight track. Super-elevation is strictly the rail height difference on a curve.

Final Answer:
Agree