In this study, the effect of sleeper spacing, and sleeper materials on wheel rail contact mechanics was investigated. The selected sleeper materials were; concrete, timber (F34) grade, structural steel, and the selected values of sleeper spacing were; 500 mm, 600 mm (the current Addis Ababa light rail transit spacing) and 700 mm to analyse the mechanics (strain, stress, force and pressure, deformation and sliding distance). Wheel rail contact at both straight and curved track taking train operating speed of 40km/hr was modelled using Finite element (FEM). First, a 3-dimension model consisting of a wheel set on railway track supported by sleepers was developed in solid works environment and then imported to Ansys workbench.rnBy taking 600 mm spacing as a benchmark, using 500 mm spacing in the curved track with the three material models results in higher values of contact pressure and stress in addition to the higher contact forces on the right side. However, lower values of equivalent elastic strain, total deformation and sliding distance in addition to lower values of contact forces on the left side are observed. Additionally, using 700 mm spacing results in lower contact stresses, equivalent elastic strain and contact pressure in addition to higher values of total deformation and sliding distance. Furthermore, the contact forces are higher on the left side and lower on the right side with the 700 mm spacing. Additionally, for the case of straight track and the three materials, the use of 500 mm yields higher values of contact stress, elastic strain, contact forces and pressure but lower values of total deformation and sliding distance. However, with 700 mm spacing, the reverse was true.rnBy taking concrete sleeper material as a bench mark, using timber (F34) sleeper material lower contact stress, strain, pressure and force but larger deformation and sliding distance and the reverse is true when the structural steel sleeper material is used. However, it is important to note that the effect of the sleeper material on contact mechanics is relatively small. According to the study, it was concluded that the most suitable sleeper spacing and material were 600 mm and concrete respectively. The results of the study are useful in improving wheel rail interaction by reducing on wear volume of wheels and track hence increasing their service life, and vibrations, squeal noise, derailment, and cracks among others by ensuring lower levels of contact stress, strain, pressure, forces, total deformation and sliding distance.