How to select rail pads for ballastless tracks?

Dec 23, 2025 Leave a message

Rail Pad is a standardized component manufactured in compliance with international and domestic standards, including GB/T 26114-2010 (China), UIC 860-2 (International), AREMA Chapter 30 (USA), and BS EN 13481-4 (Europe). These standards specify dimensional tolerances (±0.5 mm), material composition, mechanical properties, testing methods, etc., ensuring interchangeability of products from different manufacturers and facilitating standardized construction and maintenance in track engineering.

 

rail fastening

 

How to select rail pads for ballastless tracks?

 

Selecting rail pads for ballastless tracks involves balancing vibration damping, load distribution, durability, and system compatibility, focusing on material (rubber, polymer composites) and thickness (10-30mm typical) to match line needs like high-speed, urban, or heavy-haul, ensuring effective track smoothness and component longevity. Key factors are stiffness (influencing vibration) versus flexibility (for wear), fastener system integration, and environmental resilience (like frost).

 

rail fasteners

 

Key Selection Criteria:

 

Performance Needs (Vibration & Noise):

 

High-Speed/Urban: Need high elasticity and vibration isolation (e.g., steel spring floating slab systems) for passenger comfort and building protection, often with specific polymer/rubber pads.

 

Heavy-Haul: Require extreme durability and impact resistance, sometimes using metal pads with sleepers.

 

rail fasteners

 

Material Properties:

 

Durability: Must withstand service conditions without rapid replacement.

 

Elasticity/Stiffness: Balances load distribution, vibration reduction, and preventing rail movement. Softer pads offer more damping but might deform more; harder ones offer less damping but better stability.

 

Material Types: Rubber, EVA, HDPE, or recycled tire composites are common, chosen for performance and environmental impact.

 

rail fasteners

 

Raw Material Rubber, EVA, TPEE, HDPE
Standard UIC, AREMA, TB/T2626-95
Application 43kg/m, 50kg/m, 60kg/m, 75kg/m,115RE, UIC54, UIC60, S49
Model number 43-7-7, 43-10-7, 50-7-9, 50-10-9, 60-10-17, 60-12-17
Operating temperature -50~70 degrees
Certificate MSDS, ROHS, REACH
Notes They should be stored in a clean, ventilated place. Don't be in direct sunlight, and keep away from the heat source and chemical reagent. Don't touch the oil, organic solvent, and other chemicals. Banned exposure.

 

Pad Geometry & Thickness:

 

Thickness: 10-15mm for basic needs, up to 15-30mm to compensate for track settlement; thicker pads need adjustable fasteners.

 

Grooves/Design: Can be customized (grooved/ungrooved) for specific rail/fastener compatibility.

 

GNEE RAIL provides exceptional elastic rail pads of various types for high-speed railways, normal-speed railways, and cranes. Especially the rail pads made of rubber, EVA, TPEE, and HDPE are very popular with customers. Our railway rubber pads fit the rails such as UIC54, UIC60, BS80lbs, BS100lbs, etc. We have more than 130set of machines in our production lines which can reach an annual production capacity of up to 2000, 000 pieces of rail pads. We offer a wide range of rail pads and other track materials at competitive prices.

 

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