Clickety Clack?

[al-in-chgo]

While riding Charlotte's LYNX light-rail system for the first time recently, I noticed that the train seemed to be pickup up the "clickety clack" of jointed rail or something very much like it.

I would have guessed that with an ultramodern system such as LYNX, ribbon rail would be the norm.

Is there some reason ribbon rail would not be the way to go?  Am I misinterpreting some other sound??  -  a.s.

PS:  I realize this post could have gone into "Transit" but I figure here is where the laying-of-rail experts are. 

 

[tree68]

Even continous welded rail (CWR) has joints - just not every 39 feet. 

Not having been there, or involved in the building of the line, I can't say for sure, but it's entirely possible they saved some money on the initial installation by using relay rail - removed from an abandoned line, or replaced by CWR elsewhere.

If you can get a look at the rail, especially out on the line, it should be pretty obvious one way or the other.  If you can't get into a position on the train to see ahead or behind, look for passing tracks.

[mudchicken]

Multiple places would logically not be requiring welds. Commonly these would be around switches & crossovers, bridges, road crossing approaches, etc. - anywhere where panel track and panel switches are frequently put into play. Also, transit agencies rarely have flashbutt welders or qualified boutet welders just hanging around, so the welds may wait a while until the line is further completed. (for that matter, there may have been scheduling or budget issues in getting a mobile rail welding plant [like Holland] to Charlotte during construction.

With the rediculously low tonnage that these light rail toy trains generate over a 115# track section, the welds are somewhat of a luxury compared to freight and commuter rail (heavy rail) installations. There is little flexure and little end batter to be expected.