Why are some trains and subways shaky while others barely shake even when stopping?
In: Engineering
It depends on a few things.
If the ride is always shaky, even on different trains, then it’s probably the track. A lot of the shake comes from how the rail is connected and how it’s connected to the ground. When you could only place rail by a bunch of guys working by hand, the results weree inconsistent, and the joints are frequent, as humans, even working as a team, can only lift rail segments of a certain weight. Nowadays they can [use machines](https://youtu.be/_MKcTbYDP7w) that place the railroad ties at a precise height, and anchor 1/4 mile long rails securely, AND weld the joints at the ends together. Smooth! And absolutely *essential* to making high speed rail. As a rule of thumb, the oldest and least used track is probably the roughest.
If you only get shaky rides occasionally and not every time you ride, then it’s probably the train itself. The axles that trains ride on can get flat spots if the train locks up the brakes, much like how tires skid. Brakes can also warp, causing vibrations, much like a car with worn brakes. The trains can also have wear in their suspension, which can make every imperfection in the track feel so much worse.
Keep an eye during your next journey and see if you can detect where the problem might be for yourself!
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