• A novel non-Hertzian wheel-rail adhesion model is proposed, integrating EHL and extended creep force (ECF) models to capture realistic contact behavior under wet conditions.
• The model accounts for surface roughness and elastic-plastic third body layer (3BL) characteristics, improving accuracy over traditional Hertzian-based models.
• Validation against high-speed wheel-rail adhesion tests confirms the model's reliability for predicting adhesion in wet conditions.
• The study reveals that train speed and surface roughness significantly influence adhesion, with non-Hertzian contact distributions affecting traction and braking performance.