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> Here in Australia they will get hoses out on hot days desperately trying to cool the rail down to stop it buckling.

Have you got anything to show that?

Never seen or heard of that in NSW, and not heard of any track buckling issues during summer, either.

I've only found mentions online about spraying post buckling during repairs, but pre-emptive spraying does (did) occur. You will hear about speed restrictions on hot days to avoid buckling.

https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Buckling-of-a-railway-tr...

Yeah I have never seen anything like that in NSW either - anyway on 38°+ days one would have to spray continually anyway, and there’s no way you could do that along a whole rail line in a country that routinely experiences droughts and water restrictions in the summer.

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