How to maintain rail pad?
Rail Pads (under-rail pads) are elastic functional components installed between the rail and the sleeper (or track slab). Made primarily from rubber, polyurethane, EVA, and other core materials, they possess characteristics such as impact cushioning, load distribution, noise and vibration reduction, and anti-wear insulation. They are key railway components that ensure track structure stability, extend the service life of parts, and enhance operational safety and comfort.
| HDPE Rail Pad | |||
| Technical Parameter | Unit | Technical Requirement | Value |
| Density | g/cm3 | 0.95-0.98 | 0.95 |
| Tensile Strength | Mpa | ≥19 | 19 |
| Elongation | % | >80 | 150 |
| Melting Point | ℃ | 170-190 | 190 |
| Insulation Resistance | Ω | ≥1×1010 | 3.5 ×1010 |
| Hardness | A | ≥98 | 98(A) |
| Rubber Rail Pad | ||
| Technical Parameter | Unit | Value |
| Stiffness | KN | 90-130 |
| Hardness Shore A | ℃ | 72-80 degree |
| Electronic Resistance | Ω | ≥ 106 |
| Tensile Strength before Aging | Mpa | ≥12.5 |
| Elongation before Aging | % | ≥250 |
| EVA: Polyethylene 80%, Vinyl Acetate 20%. | |||
| Technical Parameter | Unit | Technical Requirement | Value |
| Density | g/cm3 | 0.95-0.98 | 0.95 |
| Tensile Strength | Mpa | ≥15 | 16 |
| Elongation | % | >500 | 550 |
| Melting Point | ℃ | 170-190 | 170 |
| Insulation Resistance | Ω | ≥1×1010 | 5.0 ×1010 |
| Hardness | A | ≥90 | 92(A) |
The maintenance of Rail Pads focuses on "regular inspection + protection + standardized replacement", with specifics as follows:
- Daily inspections should align with routine track maintenance, prioritizing checks for pad cracking, displacement, and loosening of fit. Clear surrounding debris, oil stains, and accumulated water. In special environments such as coastal or extremely cold regions, attention must be paid to corrosion and embrittlement issues.
- Specialized inspections should be conducted every 6-12 months. If the permanent compression deformation exceeds 20% (per EN 13481), the resilience rate falls below 40%, or the damaged area surpasses 10%, immediate replacement is required.
- For replacement: loosen the fasteners, lift the rail (≤10mm), clean the contact surfaces, replace with a pad of the same specification, tighten the fasteners to standard torque, and recheck the track gauge. For high-frequency lines such as heavy-haul railways or urban metros, the inspection cycle should be shortened, with focused monitoring on critical sections like switch areas.
Rail pad under the track can achieve such functions
Distribute load to a large surface
Eliminate load concentration and fatigue stress
Absorb the uneven surface contact between rail and support
Weaken rail noise and vibration
Seal the gap between the bottom of the track and the top of the sleeper
Reduce the wear of steel rail and rail sleeper
As a professional manufacturer of rail fasteners, GNEE RAIL is able to produce rail pads of various rail pads, such as UIC54, UIC60, BS80lbs, BS100lbs and so on. In addition, we can offer custom-made track pads according to drawings or samples.
