Abstract The paper studies the influence of the friction coefficient value between the rail heads and wheel flanges on the side wear between their surfaces, depending on the dynamic processes between the vehicles and the rail track of an arbitrary configuration. Research is aimed at reducing the rate of the side parts mutual wear of the rail heads and the wheel flanges of the vehicle running gears. It has been determined that a decrease in the friction coefficient in the range from 0.25 to 0.05 leads to a decrease in the indicators of side surfaces wear of the wheel flanges and rail heads by 3.5-4.5 times and an increase in the stability margin coefficient against wheel derailment of the moving vehicle running gear by 1.3-1.5 times. It has been revealed that the dynamic qualities of moving vehicles when using a continuous welded track and elongated rails, compared with the presence of butt joints on the track, decrease by 15-56%, and the stability and traffic safety indicators improve by 19-26%. The research results are provided for use in the underground, open-cut and rail transport to increase the operational life and traffic safety in transport.