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The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has installed the largest number of composite ties of any transit railroad. According to a report pertaining to composite ties published by The American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA), the CTA was initially interested in composite ties as a replacement for creosote-treated ties in elevated track. The CTA also looked to composite ties as a way to reduce the problem of stray-current electrical corrosion of track fasteners (and the safety hazard such corroded fasteners present).
Successful performance of TieTek™ ties in CTA installations has lead to the procurement of thousands of additional TieTek™ composite ties. The Blue Line in Chicago, after recent installation of TieTek™ ties, has experienced a more stable and quieter ride leading to higher transit customer satisfaction.
TieTek composite crossties have demonstrated a track life of 2 billion gross tons of load on commercial track and at TTCI in Pueblo, Colorado and are still going strong. This equates to in excess of 100 years of load on our busiest and most demanding transit systems.
Concrete ties, with all their associated fastening devices, weigh about three times as much as a TieTek tie. As a consequence, they are more costly to ship, handle and install, requiring more expensive and more extensive installation equipment. Unlike concrete tie systems, the TieTek system is simpler because it does not require insulators or abrasion resistant pads.
TieTek ties are more energy absorbing than concrete ties, thus reducing vibration and wear on rail and wheels. Most importantly, the passenger experiences a smoother and quieter ride.
TieTek ties are maintenance free. They do not require pads that must be periodically replaced multiple times during the life of concrete ties to protect against rail seat abrasion and other damage.