Track rail fastening system having cantilevered third rail support bracket and direct fixation fastener assembly for same

A track rail fastening system comprising:

• a laterally elongated support block including a first lateral side, a second lateral side, a ground-facing lower side, and an upper side opposite to the lower side and having an upper fastening surface that is continuously planar from the first lateral side to the second lateral side;
• a direct fixation fastener positioned upon the upper fastening surface adjacent to the first lateral side, and including a metallic frame having an upper rail plate, and a non-metallic jacket;
• fastener-clamping fasteners coupling the direct fixation fastener to the support block upon the upper fastening surface;
• a one-piece third-rail support bracket having an inboard bracket end adjacent to the direct fixation fastener, and an outboard bracket end, and the one-piece third-rail support bracket being formed of a non-metallic material;
• bracket-clamping fasteners coupling the inboard bracket end to the support block upon the upper fastening surface;
• the third-rail support bracket projects laterally outward of the second lateral side, such that the outboard bracket end is cantilevered to the support block;
• the inboard bracket end including an inboard terminal end, and the outboard bracket end including an outboard terminal end, and the third-rail support bracket further including at least one full-length stiffening wall extending laterally from the inboard terminal end to the outboard terminal end;
• the third-rail support bracket further including an upper face, and a lower face clamped in contact with the laterally elongated support block, and the at least one full-length stiffening wall is spaced from the upper fastening surface in a fore-aft direction;
• and
• the upper face being continuously planar from the inboard bracket end to the outboard bracket end.