If you work anywhere near Switches and Crossings (S&C), you already know the pain. Constant movement. Heavy axle loads. Friction, impact, wear. These components do a tough job and wear out faster than almost anything else on the track.
The result is usually a steady stream of welds, inspections, and replacements. Often at the same sites. Over and over again.
HYPERTRAXS® GR8 is a specialist wear-resistant coating developed to change that cycle. It’s applied to switches before installation and acts like a protective skin against mechanical stress and degradation. No need to change your supplier. No need to alter how the switch is installed. Just longer life, fewer faults, and less time spent going back to the same places.
Let’s break down exactly what it does.
It extends switch life by up to 200%
The coating works by slowing down the rate at which key contact surfaces wear. Independent studies and live trials show that coated switches can last up to twice as long as uncoated ones under similar traffic loads. That means fewer full replacements, fewer emergency interventions, and fewer budget surprises down the line.
It reduces the need for weld repairs and inspections
Every weld repair is a warning sign. It costs time, ties up teams, and only delays the next visit. HYPERTRAXS® GR8 helps reduce the number of interventions by protecting the areas that fail fastest. As wear slows, so does the need for constant checks. That frees up your team to focus on higher-value work, not just firefighting.
It cuts the frequency and duration of closures
Switch failures cause disruption. Repairing or replacing them means line closures, schedule changes, and potential penalties. The coating doesn’t eliminate all faults—nothing can—but it significantly reduces the chances of early failure. And when things last longer, closures become less frequent, shorter, and easier to plan for.
It’s already approved and in use
This isn’t experimental tech. HYPERTRAXS® GR8 has been tested by Network Rail’s Technical Authority and is fully approved for use across the UK network. It’s already protecting switches in multiple regions and the early data is promising.
It fits your existing systems
There’s no need to switch suppliers or overhaul your procurement process. HYPERTRAXS® GR8 is supplier-neutral and can be specified with any of the four approved UK switch manufacturers. The coating is applied after manufacturing but before delivery to site, so it fits seamlessly into your current workflow.
In short:
It’s a smarter way to protect one of the most failure-prone, labour-intensive components on the track. It doesn’t change how you work. It just means you don’t have to do the same work again so soon.
