Railway fish plate, it is also called rail joint or joint bar. As one of the rail components, rail joint's function is different from other rail components. Rail joint is a flat metal plate usually used to connect adjacent two rails by a number of rail bolts or railroad spikes. Traditionally, railway fish plate is drilled with some holes on the ends of the sections to be connected. There are some holes in the end of railway track, which are used to be lined up with the holes in the railway fish plate and jointed with rail bolt.
Fishplates must be installed with fish bolts (Rail Joint Bolts) to fulfill their function of connecting and securing rails. The fishplate itself is simply a pair of steel plates shaped to match the rail web profile. Without fish bolts to clamp them tightly on both sides of the rail, they cannot generate sufficient gripping force to maintain joint stability or effectively transfer the longitudinal tension, shear forces, and impact loads generated during train operation.
Fish bolts serve not only to secure the fishplates but also, when used with spring washers and flat washers, prevent loosening due to train vibrations and temperature variations. This ensures proper joint alignment (track straightness) and maintains joint strength. For heavy-haul railways, high-speed railways, and regions with significant temperature fluctuations, fish bolts require higher-grade materials, larger diameters, and greater preload to withstand increased loads and environmental stresses. Insulated fishplates must also use special insulated bolts and sleeves to prevent electrical short circuits at rail joints.
GNEE RAILWAY RAILWAYL provides not only various standard and customized fishplates and fish bolts, but also supplies a comprehensive range of railway fasteners including rail clips (SKL, KPO, Nabla, Fast Clip, E Clip, etc.), screw spikes, dog spikes, gauge rods, rail pads, rail braces, rail clamps, rail support seats, and insulated gauge blocks. etc.
