of clarity the bearing includes a stationary essentially roof shaped base 52 points element 40 can be pivoted in the described manner relative to this base 52 a hydraulic cylinder 54 for example as illustrated schematically is suitable as a pivot drive fig6 is intended to illustrate that the combination of a first switch component 4 and a second switch component 6 into a unitary points element 40 represents a particularly favorable solution but that there are numerous other possibilities for the points construction according to the invention another one of which is shown here schematically if the first switch component 4 shown in solid lines in its operational position is pivoted downwardly out of the plane of the tracking system into the non operational position shown in broken lines the second switch component 6 which is shown in the non operational position can be pivoted upwardly into the operational position fig7 shows how the points structure according to the invention can also be used in a rail tracking system the illustrated points element 40 is constructed analogously to the points element 40 of fig4 points element 40 includes a first switch component 4 and attached thereto welded to its side at an angle of 90 u00b0 a curved second switch component 6 a three way rail switch can also be constructed according to the described principles it requires no longitudinal offset of the turnout toward the left and the turnout toward the right pivotal points elements may be provided on the combined side of the rail switch so as to bring the one turnout direction into the operational position by pivoting it.