PROSPECTS FOR APPLICATION OF DEVELOPMENTS IN THE FIELD OF BIOTECHNOLOGIES TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS OF CURRENT MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF RAILWAY TRACKS

The article considers the urgent problem of finding innovative and environmentally sustainable solutions for the current maintenance and repair of railway infrastructure, with a special emphasis on the potential of biotech nology. The authors emphasize that traditional methods used in the railway industry often have a number of dis advantages, including a negative impact on the environment, high cost and insufficient efficiency. In this regard, the paper analyzes the possibility of introducing biotechnological approaches to solve a number of problems asso ciated with the railway bed. In particular, the article examines in detail the issues of strengthening the slopes of the roadbed, where traditional methods (scattering grasses, using geogrids) are shown to be insufficiently effec tive, with a limited service life and high cost. An alternative is the development of biogenic methods that ensure self-reproducibility of the protective coating and minimal maintenance costs. Particular attention is paid to the fight against unwanted vegetation in the ballast prism, where traditional herbicides do not meet the requirements of environmental safety and duration of effect. The article sets the task of developing bioherbicides that ensure complete destruction of vegetation, long-lasting effect, speed of action and environmental friendliness. Also, the issues of recycling wooden sleepers impregnated with toxic antiseptics, soil pollution with oil products, water drainage from bridge structures and problems of excess moisture in tunnels are raised. In all these areas, it is proposed to introduce biological methods, such as bioremediation of contaminated soils with microor ganisms, creation of biofilters for wastewater treatment and biodrainage of tunnels. The authors touch upon the problem of accelerating the growth of protective forest belts, which are important for protecting the railway track from snow and sand drifts. The article emphasizes the importance of introducing biotechnology in the railway industry, noting its poten tial to reduce the negative impact on the environment, increase the efficiency and reliability of the railway infra structure, and reduce maintenance and repair costs. The presented review of the problems and proposed solutions creates a basis for further research and development in the field of biotechnology in the railway industry.