As railways expand worldwide, the demand for stronger, safer, and more efficient track systems has never been greater. One of the most significant challenges railroads face is heat and managing thermal forces. Steel rail expands in the sun and contracts in the cold, and if those forces aren’t managed correctly, these forces can cause serious problems like track buckling or rail breaks. This is especially important in regions with extreme temperature fluctuations, such as Canada, Australia and India.

The key to preventing these issues is maintaining the correct Neutral Rail Temperature (NRT), the point where the rail is neither in tension nor compression. Getting this right is critical for both safety and performance.

We’ve taken decades of rail welding expertise and combined it with innovative tools to deliver a smarter way to manage continuous welded rail (CWR). The goal is simple: keep trains moving safely and efficiently, no matter the climate.

Holland has extensive experience performing in-track flash-butt closure welding across North America. Our process combines the Intelliweld® Control System with the 160-T Puller Lite, delivering unmatched precision and repeatability.

• Intelliweld produces consistent, low-consumption flash-butt welds. This preserves rail material and reduces the need to unfasten track components. It also collects hundreds of data points on each weld, helping us improve our welding practices from equipment to
• The 160-T Puller Lite, separate from the welder head, enables controlled gap closure, precise alignment, and accurate tension application without additional stress to the welder head. It also measures and verifies the force applied, improving quality control and ensuring the rail is restored to the correct stress level.

Together, these tools create a fully integrated system that makes closure welds stronger, safer, and more reliable. The results include increased safety, higher efficiency, and reduced maintenance risks. For heavy-haul freight networks, this means fewer disruptions and lower costs. For passenger systems, it means safe and reliable service.

At Holland, we’re not just welding rail; we’re helping railroads build the future of safe, efficient transportation by giving them greater confidence in every mile of track.

→Learn more about destressing rail with flash-butt welding.