LAUSR

Abstract This review aims to provide a general view on anti-corrosion coatings for the protection of steel railway structures exposed to atmospheric environments. The article describes the specific features of the operation of railway structures with steel elements, including culverts and bridge structures (bridges, viaducts, flyovers, overpasses), track and catenary. The structural, metallurgical and environmental factors influencing the nature and corrosion rate of these structures are summarized and discussed. The mechanisms of electrochemical processes of atmospheric corrosion of steels, corrosion products and layers are analyzed. The types of the most widely used anti-corrosion coatings for steel railway structures, their main components, and characteristics are depicted. The protective mechanisms of such coatings, as well as the processes leading to their degradation and destruction, are investigated. In conclusion, the article highlights key bottlenecks and areas for further research in this area in the context of increasing environmental compliance requirements, lower operating costs, and improved performance of anti-corrosion coatings for steel railway structures.