Method for intensified heating of track elements, wherein, at at least one track element, provision is made of at least one primary heating element for regular heating and, at at least one functionally relevant component of the track element, provision is made of at least one secondary heating element, wherein the primary heating element is attached to a part of the track element and can be switched ON as well as OFF in a regular manner by means of a control parameter detected, for example via a rail-temperature sensor, and wherein the secondary heating element is attached to another part of the track element and can be switched ON as well as OFF without its own control sensor in a manner dependent on the primary heating element, comprising the steps of a) heating a track element in a regular manner by means of the at least one primary heating element, b) heating the at least one functionally relevant component of the track element by means of the at least one secondary heating element at the at least one track element during heating pauses of the at least one primary heating element, or after attainment of a target temperature of the track element in the region of the at least one primary heating element, or in the case of power reserves being available, if the heating power required at the track element is higher than the heating power of the at least one primary heating element installed at the track element, wherein the secondary heating element can never be in the state switched to ON at the same time as the primary heating element, wherein the heating by means of the at least one secondary heating element is activated c1) if a maximum control deviation Δmax for the at least one functionally relevant component of the track element is exceeded, or c2) by means of an additional switch in a control device, or c3) if a predefinable environmental parameter is fallen below. wherein the primary heating element is attached to a part of the track element and can be switched ON as well as OFF in a regular manner by means of a control parameter detected, for example via a rail-temperature sensor, and wherein the secondary heating element is attached to another part of the track element and can be switched ON as well as OFF without its own control sensor in a manner dependent on the primary heating element, comprising the steps of a) heating a track element in a regular manner by means of the at least one primary heating element, b) heating the at least one functionally relevant component of the track element by means of the at least one secondary heating element at the at least one track element during heating pauses of the at least one primary heating element, or after attainment of a target temperature of the track element in the region of the at least one primary heating element, or in the case of power reserves being available, if the heating power required at the track element is higher than the heating power of the at least one primary heating element installed at the track element, a) heating a track element in a regular manner by means of the at least one primary heating element, b) heating the at least one functionally relevant component of the track element by means of the at least one secondary heating element at the at least one track element during heating pauses of the at least one primary heating element, or after attainment of a target temperature of the track element in the region of the at least one primary heating element, or in the case of power reserves being available, if the heating power required at the track element is higher than the heating power of the at least one primary heating element installed at the track element, wherein the secondary heating element can never be in the state switched to ON at the same time as the primary heating element, wherein the heating by means of the at least one secondary heating element is activated c1) if a maximum control deviation Δmax for the at least one functionally relevant component of the track element is exceeded, or c2) by means of an additional switch in a control device, or c3) if a predefinable environmental parameter is fallen below.