Functions
- Provide a hard and level bed for sleepers
- Hold sleepers in place during passage of trains
- Transfers and distributes load from sleepers to larger area
- Provides effective drainage and keep sleeper dry
- Prevent vegetation growth
- Prevents water from percolating (capillary rise)
- Provide track stability
- Good bearing capacity and crushing value
- Tough and wear resistant
- Good drainage property
- Non porous
- Should resist attrition and abrasion
- --Attrition: getting carried/ rubbed away by means of friction
- -- Abrasion: wearing down by means of friction
- Weather resistant
- Low lifecycle cost
