A rail fish plate is a steel joint bar whose purpose is to maintain rail-end alignment and structural cooperation under dynamic loading conditions in jointed track. GNEE RAIL supplies fish plates covering GB 8–60 kg/m, UIC50/UIC54/UIC60, DIN536 A-series, QU70/80/100/120, JIS rail sections, AS1085 rails, BS11 profiles, and AREMA/ASCE standards, with coordinated export logistics.
How Railroad Joint Bars Keep Rails Aligned and Secure?
Railroad joint bars (or fishplates) keep rails aligned and secure by acting as heavy-duty, steel, bolted splice plates that bridge the gap between two rail ends. Secured with 4 or 6 heavy-duty bolts and often spring washers, they ensure structural continuity, allowing for vertical and horizontal stability while permitting thermal expansion and contraction.
Key Mechanisms of Joint Bars:
- Structural Connection: Installed on both sides of the rail web, they create a continuous, load-bearing structure, holding rails in place and preventing separation.
- Alignment Maintenance: They hold rail ends together in precise alignment to ensure a smooth surface for wheels, minimizing impact and damage at the joints.
- Load Distribution: By bridging the gap, they distribute the weight of passing trains across the joints, reducing excessive stress on the track structure.
- Thermal Expansion: The bolt holes in the joint bars are often designed to be slotted or oversized to allow for the expansion and contraction of rails due to temperature changes.
- Types: Standard, insulated (for signaling), and compromise (for joining different rail sizes) joints are used, with 4-hole or 6-hole configurations, typically supported on railroad ties for stability.
Regular maintenance of these joints is critical to avoid accidents, as they are considered a weak point in the track.
How many bolts are in a railway fishplate?
A standard railway fishplate joint typically uses four bolts to connect two rail ends. For heavier, longer, or specialized rail applications, six bolts per joint may be used. These bolts are passed through a pair of fishplates-one on each side of the rail-to secure the connection.
- Standard Configuration: 4 holes/bolts (2 per rail end).
- Long/Heavy Configuration: 6 holes/bolts (3 per rail end).
- Components: Each bolt is usually accompanied by a nut and a spring washer.
| Railway Fish bolt | ||||
| Grade | 4.6 | 5.6 | 8.8 | 10.9 |
| Material | Q235 | 35# | 45# | 40Cr |
| Mechanical properties | Tensile strength: ≥400Mpa | Tensile strength: ≥500Mpa | Tensile strength:≥800Mpa | Tensile strength: ≥1000Mpa |
| Yield strength:≥240Mpa | Yield strength:≥300Mpa | Yield strength:≥640Mpa | Yield strength:≥900Mpa | |
| Elongation:≥22% | Elongation:≥20% | Elongation:≥12% | Elongation:≥9% | |
| Cold bending: | Cold bending: | Cold bending: | Cold bending: | |
| 90 degree without crac | 90 degree without crac | 90 degree without crac | 90 degree without crac | |
| Surface | plain (oiled), Oxide black, Zinc, HDG, wax, bitumen, Dacromet, Sherardizing | |||
| Standard refers | UIC864-2 | |||
The fishplates are designed to match the strength of the rail and ensure a stable, secure connection for the railway track.
What is the weight of fish plate in railway?
Railway fish plates (joint bars) vary in weight based on rail size, type, and length, generally ranging from 5 kg to over 28 kg per plate for standard applications. Common heavy rail fish plates, such as those for 50kg or 60kg rails, typically weigh between 15 kg and 25 kg per unit, with 6-hole plates being heavier (e.g., ~22.9 kg for UIC54/60).
Typical Fish Plate Weights and Types
- Light Rail (8kg - 30kg): Weigh less, suitable for smaller tracks.
- Heavy Rail (38kg - 60kg): Typically 10 kg to 28 kg per plate.
- 60kg Joggled Fish Plate: Roughly 12 kg - 15 kg per piece.
- UIC 54/60 6-Hole Plate: Approximately 22.9 kg or more.
- Specialized/Other: 100RE (TR50) plates are around 50.35 kg (likely per set/unit), and BS113A plates are around 56.4 kg.
| Fishplate for UIC Standard Steel Rail | |||
| Steel Rail Type | Steel Rail Weight (KG/M) | Fishplate Standard | Fishplate Material |
| UIC54 | 54.43 | UIC | 45#,55# |
| UIC60 | 60.34 | ||
| Fishplate for BS Standard Steel Rail | |||
| BS50'O' | 24.833 | BS 47-1 | 55#,45# European Grade 700 |
| BS60A | 30.618 | ||
| BS75R | 37.041 | ||
| BS80A | 39.761 | ||
| BS90A | 45.099 | ||
| BS100A | 50.182 | ||
| BS113A | 56.398 | ||
| Joint Bar for AREMA 2007 Standard Steel Rail | |||
| 100RE(TR50) | 50.35 | AREMA 2007 | 45#,55#,AREMA Grade Steel |
| 115RE | 56.9 | ||
| 115-119RE | |||
| 132RE | 65.31 | ||
| 133RE | 66.1 | ||
| 136RE | 67.41 | ||
| 132-136RE | |||
| Fishplate For Chinese Standard Steel Rail | |||
| GB15KG | 15.2 | YB226-63 | Q235,45# |
| GB18KG | 18.06 | YB225-63 | |
| GB22KG | 22.3 | YB14-63 | |
| GB24KG | 24.46 | ||
| GB30KG | 30.1 | YB351-63 | |
| GB38KG | 38.733 | TB/T 2345-2008 | 45#,55# |
| GB43KG | 44.653 | ||
| GB50KG | 51.514 | ||
Founded in 2008, GNEE RAIL is a leading global manufacturer and supplier of railway components, specializing in high-quality rail fish plates (joint bars/splice bars) with strong production capacity and global service capabilities.
Our rail fish plate portfolio is comprehensive and compliant with international standards including UIC, AREMA, BS, DIN, and GB, covering light rail (8kg-30kg), heavy rail (38kg-75kg), and crane rail (QU70-QU120) systems. We offer diverse types such as insulated joint bars, bulged fish plates, and compromise rail joints,with precise specifications (4-hole/6-hole, 24-inch/36-inch), ensuring excellent mechanical performance.We uphold strict quality control supported by ISO 9001:2015 certification, an in-house inspection center, and third-party audits by SGS and BV. Our one-stop service includes customization, production, packaging, and after-sales support, tailored to clients' project needs.
Click here to obtain the detailed product catalog of GNEE RAIL.
