ABSTRACT
At the moment, the Railway system in Nigeria is generally unreliable and inefficient. For instance, the journey time on Kaduna to Zaria rail link of 84 km takes 2 hours 15 minutes compared to 45 minutes by road. The problem is due largely to line related infrastructures and geometrical limitations of the route. Specific instances of speed restrictions are identified, analysed and redesigned as appropriate. A short term plan which is not capital intensive is formulated to increase speed on the line to a maximum of 110 km/h. From data collected on operational characteristics with respect to existing system and design guidelines from standard texts coupled with direct observations through site surveys and experiment, the following factors were examined:- -Stress on both tangent and curved track due to static and dynamic loads. -Cant deficiency, superelevation and length of transition for curves -Curve realignment and easement of curves. Data analysis, showed that all curves having curvature higher than 3 degree and which constitute 13 percent length of the section, cannot permit speed higher than 100 km/h even when the track structure was confirmed okay for 100 km/h. Rail section wormout on the rail head beyond 10 percent does not permit speed higher than 90 km/h. Track turnout is another hinderance to speed with permissible speed of 60 km/h only. Suitable designs and proposals that effectively eliminate the identified constraints are given. Specific recommendations to achieve the set objectives were fashioned out in a coordinated perspective planning by considering 15 years long term plan, phased out in a three short term plan of 5 years each. Under each phase, a set of tasks to be performed such as :- safety installation improvement at level crossing and good riding quality, Signalling/Interlocking improvement. Track layout and structural improvement- by completely realigning sharp curves having total length of 10.12 km, rolling stock and traffic movement improvement; are judiciously implemented. vi If the recommendations of this research are undertaken, the Railway will spend only about ten million, nine hundred and twenty-six thousand and thirty-six naira (N 10,926,036:00) for the execution, and the savings likely to acrue is ten million three hundred and forty-six thousand six hundred and ninety-eight naira, eighty kobo( N 10, 346,698:80) per annum.