Cant (road/rail)

The cant of a railway track or camber of a road (also referred to as

superelevation, cross slope or cross fall) is the rate of change in elevation
(height) between the two rails or edges. This is normally greater where the
railway or road is curved; raising the outer rail or the outer edge of the road
providing a banked turn, thus allowing vehicles to maneuver through the curve
at higher speeds than would otherwise be possible if the surface was flat or level.
On railways, cant helps a train steer around a curve, keeping the wheel flanges
from touching the rails, minimising friction and wear.
The main functions of cant are to:

Better distribute load across both rails

Reduce rail- and wheel-wear

Neutralise the effect of lateral forces

Improve passenger comfort

Railway superelevation at work

The necessary cant in a curve depends on the expected speed of the trains and
the radius. However, it may be necessary to select a compromise value at design
time, for example if slow-moving trains may occasionally use tracks intended for
high-speed trains.
Generally the aim is for trains to run without flange contact, which also depends
on the tyre profile of the wheels. Allowance has to be made for the different
speeds of trains. Slower trains will tend to make flange contact with the inner rail
on curves, while faster trains will tend to ride outwards and make contact with
the outer rail. Either contact causes wear and tear and may lead to derailment.
Many high-speed lines do not permit slower freight trains, particularly with
heavier axle loads. In some cases, the impact is reduced by the use of flange
lubrication.
Ideally, the track should have sleepers (railroad ties) at a closer spacing and a
greater depth of ballast to accommodate the increased forces exerted in the
curve.

At the ends of a curve, the amount of cant cannot change from zero to its
maximum immediately. It must change (ramp) gradually in a track transition
curve. The length of the transition depends on the maximum allowable speed
the higher the speed, the greater length is required.
The maximum value of cant (the height of the outer rail above the inner rail) for
a standard gauge railway is about 150 mm (6 in). For high-speed railways in
Europe, maximum cant is 180 mm (7 in) (when slow freight trains are not
allowed).
Track unbalanced superelevation (cant deficiency) in the United States is
restricted to 75 mm (3 in), though 102 mm (4.0 in) is permissible by waiver. The
maximum value for European railways varies by country, some of which have
curves with over 280 mm (11 in) of unbalanced superelevation to permit highspeed transportation. The highest values are only for tilting trains, because it
would be too uncomfortable for passengers.