Document Number: NIWI-2654.

1
WORK INSTRUCTION Date of Issue: 13/08/2009
Revision Number: 02

Technical Specification for Supply of Ballast

Purpose This Standard contains a technical specification for the supply of ballast.

The Standard applies to all infrastructure managed by V/Line Passenger under the
Regional Infrastructure Lease (RIL).

History Replaces revision 01, which replaced ENG-TE-SPE-4702 – Supply of Ballast,

Screenings and Crushed Rock for Trackwork.

Definitions Please refer to the V/Line Passenger Corporate Dictionary for abbreviations and
terms used in this Standard.

Process 1 GENERAL
Supply
Ballast shall be supplied:
 Stockpiled at locations nominated by V/Line Passenger;
 Loaded into railway wagons at locations nominated by V/Line Passenger;
and/or
 Loaded into road trucks at the supplier’s quarry or at other locations
nominated by V/Line Passenger;
as specified in the supply contract.

Source Material
Ballast shall comprise basalt, or other rock of similar properties.

Material From New Sources

Where ballast is to be supplied from sources not previously used by V/Line
Passenger, V/Line Passenger may arrange petrographic and petrological
analysis of the source material, to evaluate for deleterious components.

V/Line Passenger may reject igneous or other rock displaying minerals

considered harmful to the overall performance of the ballast, even though the
ballast may comply with other requirements of this technical specification.

2 PROPERTIES
General
Ballast shall be clean, and free from:
 Clay;
 Dirt;
 Other deleterious matter;

Approved By: General Manager, Infrastructure | Printed copies are uncontrolled Page 1 of 3
 Document Number: NIWI-2654.1
WORK INSTRUCTION Date of Issue: 13/08/2009
Revision Number: 02

Technical Specification for Supply of Ballast

 Weathered pieces of rock; and

 Dust.

Australian Standard
Ballast shall conform to AS 2758.7 – Aggregates and Rock for Engineering
Purposes: Railway Ballast, Class H, unless otherwise stated in this technical
specification and Or unless otherwise approved by Maintenance Manager
(Track & Civil) of V/Line Infrastructure Division.
Grading
Ballast grading for 53mm and 40mm ballast shall conform to the limits
specified in AS 2758.7 – Aggregates and Rock for Engineering Purposes:
Railway Ballast, Table 1, standard grading for nominal size 60 mm or 50 mm
respectively as specified in the supply contract.

Weak Particles
The proportion of weak particles, when tested according to AS 1141.32 –
Method for Sampling and Testing Aggregates, shall not exceed 0.3%.

Durability Assessment
Ballast shall comply with the requirements for durability specified in both
clauses 10.3 and 10.4 of AS 2758.7 – Aggregates and Rock for Engineering
Purposes: Railway Ballast.

3 HANDLING AND TRANSPORT

Handling
During production, transport and/or stockpiling of ballast, the material shall be
handled in a manner such that it remains clean, and free from segregation of
different sized stones.

All operations shall avoid circumstances which may degrade the ballast, such
as:
 Repeated mechanical handling;
 Unnecessary dropping;
 Operation of machinery over stockpiles; or
 Contamination from the bases of stockpiles or other sources.

Transport
Vehicles used for transportation shall be clean, and free from rubbish and
substances that may foul or damage the ballast.

Rejection of Material
V/Line Passenger may reject material that has become dirty, degraded, or
excessively segregated.

Approved By: General Manager, Infrastructure | Printed copies are uncontrolled Page 2 of 3
 Document Number: NIWI-2654.1
WORK INSTRUCTION Date of Issue: 13/08/2009
Revision Number: 02

Technical Specification for Supply of Ballast

4 SAMPLING, TESTING AND CERTIFICATION

General
All sampling and testing shall be:
 Arranged by the ballast supplier at its expense; and
 Carried out by a member of the National Association of Testing
Authorities (NATA).

Testing for Conformity

A sample from the first 100 m3 of ballast produced shall be tested for full
conformity with this technical specification, except when this requirement is
waived by V/Line Passenger.

Production Testing
Production testing shall comprise:
 Particle size distribution testing, sampled at least once from each
1,000 m3 of ballast produced;
 Testing for misshapen particles, sampled at least once from each
1,000 m3 of ballast produced; and
 Testing for full conformity with this technical specification, sampled at
least once from each 10,000 m3 of ballast produced.

Sampling for production testing shall take place from ballast that has been
delivered in accordance with the supply contract.

Non-conforming Ballast
If testing identifies ballast which does not conform to the requirements of this
technical specification, V/Line Passenger may at its discretion:
 Reject ballast which has been supplied;
 Suspend the delivery of further ballast; and/or
 Require additional testing.

Reporting
Reporting documentation shall include certification that the ballast has been
sampled and tested in accordance with, and meets the requirements of, this
technical specification.

Reports of sampling and testing (including all test certificates) shall be

forwarded promptly to V/Line Passenger, including when the ballast has not
met the requirements of this technical specification.

Related AS 1141.32 – Method for Sampling and Testing Aggregates

Documents AS 2758.7 – Aggregates and Rock for Engineering Purposes: Railway Ballast

Approved By: General Manager, Infrastructure | Printed copies are uncontrolled Page 3 of 3