Extreme summer heat can push railway track temperatures above 60°C, increasing the risk of deformation and forcing operators to impose speed restrictions. Researchers at the Korea Railroad Research Institute, or KRRI, have developed a thermal-blocking textile designed to keep rails cooler without relying on conventional water-spraying systems, tells Tech Xplore.
The technology uses a multilayer textile attached directly to rails by magnetic force. A specialized coating reflects more than 85% of incoming solar radiation, while magnets and fiberglass layers provide attachment and structural support. By reducing the amount of heat absorbed by rails, the system offers a water-free approach to managing rising track temperatures.
Field demonstrations produced promising results. Tests conducted on South Korea’s conventional Gwangju Line in 2024 and the Jungbu Inland High-Speed Line in 2025 recorded a maximum rail-temperature reduction of 10.9°C. Researchers reported no performance degradation during testing, while certified durability assessments indicated that the material could maintain its performance for more than 10 years.
KRRI also developed an automated system to make deployment more practical. A single machine cleans rail surfaces, installs the textile, and retrieves it after the summer season. Its modular design allows two operators to transport and assemble the equipment, which can work at speeds exceeding 2 kilometers per hour.
Safety tests addressed concerns about attaching material to high-speed railway tracks. The textile remained secure when exposed to opposing winds produced by KTX trains traveling at 300 kilometers per hour. Its magnetic attachment was designed to withstand wind speeds of up to 66 meters per second, with additional fastening mechanisms providing extra security.
The technology is now moving toward commercialization through a transfer agreement with PITCHCABLE. KRRI also sees opportunities beyond railways, including heat mitigation for building exteriors and roadside infrastructure. As extreme heat increasingly affects transportation systems, the approach could provide rail operators with a practical alternative to water-intensive cooling.
