Yah. But you can have these instead [1] https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feste_Fahrbahn#/media/Datei:Oelzetalbr%C3%BCcke-Schienenauszug.jpg https://de.wikipedia.or

Yah. But you can have these instead [1] https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feste_Fahrbahn#/media/Datei:Oelzetalbr%C3%BCcke-Schienenauszug.jpg https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feste_Fahrbahn#/media/Datei:Oe... (right track, above middle of picture) Not only on bridges. AFAIK this is the way to go with any sort of HSR, "Feste Fahrbahn", https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballastless_track https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballastless_track or whatever. I remember them even from the early 80ies, asking people about what that is, and why? Edit: I see your [1] has a similar picture for an "expansion joint", but it looks functionally different, because not "seamless". With the stuff I know there is only expansion outwards, while there is almost no gap on the rail itself.