Can A120 heavy rails be used for railway tracks?

Can A120 heavy rails be used for railway tracks?

The short answer is no. A120 heavy rails are specifically designed as crane rails according to the DIN 536 standard and are not suitable for standard passenger or freight railway tracks. While they are both made of steel and carry wheeled vehicles, the engineering principles, geometric profiles, and material properties of A120 rails are fundamentally different from the "T-section" (Vignole) rails used in national railway networks.

Using A120 steel rails for a railway application would lead to immediate technical failures, including wheel-rail incompatibility and insufficient drainage capabilities. The A120 rail profile is optimized for heavy, slow-moving point loads like those found in A120 overhead crane rail systems, whereas railway tracks require high-speed stability and flexibility.

Key reasons why A120 rails cannot be used for railway tracks include:

• Geometric Incompatibility: Railway wheels have a specific taper and flange depth designed for T-section rails; they cannot safely grip the flat, wide head of an A120 rail profile.

• Low Profile Design: The A120 rail dimensions feature a very low height (105mm) compared to its width (220mm), which does not provide the vertical clearance needed for standard railway wheel flanges.

• Rigidity vs. Flexibility: A120 crane tracks are designed to be rigid and fixed to solid foundations, whereas railway tracks must be flexible and mounted on ballast to absorb the energy of high-speed trains.

• Weight Distribution: The A120 rail weight per meter (101.2 kg/m) is massive, but its "short and wide" shape is inefficient for the long-span support requirements of railway sleepers.

A120 Crane Rail vs. Standard Railway Rail

The primary difference lies in the cross-sectional geometry. Standard railway rails are tall to provide "beam strength," allowing them to span the gaps between sleepers. The A120 heavy rails are short and wide to provide a "foundation" for heavy rollers.

Because the A120 rail profile is so much wider and shorter, a standard train wheel would strike the A120 rail accessories (like clips) or the baseplate because there isn't enough vertical clearance between the rail head and the base.

Why Is the A120 Rail Profile Specifically for Cranes?

The design of A120 steel rails focuses on Lateral Stability. Overhead cranes and gantry cranes exert immense side-thrust forces when they start, stop, or move a load sideways. The 220mm base of the A120 rails acts like a heavy-duty anchor, preventing the rail from twisting or "rolling" under these lateral stresses. In a railway environment, these lateral forces are much lower, making the wide base of the A120 heavy rails unnecessary and overly expensive.

Furthermore, A120 crane tracks are often mounted on rubber pads and fixed with baseplates/Steel Soleplates to a continuous steel or concrete girder. This setup is designed to handle the crushing vertical pressure of crane wheels, which can reach 60 tons per wheel. Railway tracks, which distribute much lighter wheel loads (typically 20-30 tons) across multiple sleepers, do not require the massive surface area provided by the A120 rail material.

• Load Type: A120 rails handle static-heavy pressure; railway rails handle dynamic-vibration stress.

• Mounting: DIN536 A120 Rail Systems are usually fixed; railway tracks "float" on ballast.

• Fasteners: A120 rail accessories are designed to hold the rail against a girder, not a wooden or concrete sleeper.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can A120 rails be used for light rail or trams?

No. Even light rail and trams require the vertical clearance and "T-shape" of standard rails to accommodate their wheel flanges. The A120 rail profile is strictly for industrial cranes.

2. Is the steel grade of A120 rails the same as railway rails?

Not exactly. While both use high-carbon steel, A120 rail material often prioritizes Brinell hardness (e.g., A120 DIN536 Grade S700 European Crane Rail) to resist crushing, while railway rails prioritize fracture toughness and resistance to rolling contact fatigue.

3. What happens if I try to run a train on A120 rails?

The train wheel flanges would likely hit the A120 rail accessories or the rail base, leading to a derailment. Additionally, the flat head of the A120 steel crane rail would cause excessive vibration and damage to the train's suspension.

4. Why is the A120 rail so much heavier than a UIC 60 railway rail?

The A120 rail weight per meter (101.2 kg) is higher because of its massive 220mm base and 120mm head. This weight provides the structural mass needed to stay stable under the extreme, slow-moving loads of a gantry crane.

5. Do you provide welding kits for railway rails too?

Yes, we provide Alumothermic Welding kits for Rails specifically designed for both A120 rails and standard railway profiles, ensuring high-strength joints for any track type.

Get a Quote in 24 Hours

At GNEE RAIL, we provide expert guidance to ensure you receive the correct A120 steel rails for your industrial project or the appropriate T-section rails for your railway needs. We offer a full range of A120 rail accessories, standard fastening clips, and Alumothermic Welding kits for Rails to support a professional installation. Contact us to get a professional solution and ensure your track system is engineered to the highest international standards.