A rail fish plate is a steel jointing component that restores effective sectional strength at rail connections by clamping rail webs together, ensuring safe passage of rolling stock across joints. GNEE RAIL offers fish plates for GB rails, UIC rails, DIN536 A-series crane rails, QU crane rails, JIS rail standards, AS1085 rails, BS11 profiles, and AREMA/ASCE rail systems, with international logistics coordination.
Types of Rail Joint Bar
| Classification Category | Type of Rail Joint | Core Definition / Key Characteristics |
| By Position on Track | Square Joint | Joints on parallel rails are aligned opposite each other. Common on straight tracks; simple but causes more impact. |
| Staggered Joint | Joints on one rail are opposite the mid-point of the adjacent rail. Primarily used on curves to reduce forces and improve ride quality. | |
| By Position of Sleepers | Supported Joint | Rail ends rest directly on a single "joint sleeper". Minimizes deflection but creates a rigid, high-maintenance point. |
| Suspended Joint | Rail ends are located between two sleepers. The most common type; offers flexibility but requires more frequent maintenance. | |
| Bridge Joint | Similar to suspended, but uses a metal bridge plate to connect rails on either side of the joint. Not widely used. | |
| By Performance & Application | Ordinary (Bolted) Joint | Standard connection using fishplates and bolts. Cost-effective, allows for thermal expansion. |
| Compromise Joint | Connects two rails of different sizes/profiles. Uses specially shaped fishplates to ensure a smooth transition. | |
| Conductive Joint | Ensures electrical continuity between rail sections for traction current and signaling, using conductive materials. | |
| Insulated Joint (IRJ) | Electrically isolates rail sections for signaling systems. Uses insulating materials between rails and plates. | |
| Welded Joint | Rail ends are fused together (e.g., thermite welding). Creates Continuous Welded Rail (CWR) for a smoother, stronger track. | |
| Frozen Joint | A defective condition where tight or corroded fishplates prevent thermal expansion/contraction, leading to high stress. | |
| Expansion Joint (REJ) | Allows controlled longitudinal rail movement (e.g., on bridges) to prevent buckling or breakage due to temperature changes. |
Length of Ordinary Fish Plate
Ordinary fish plates, used to join rail sections, typically measure between 600mm and 1000mm in length, commonly featuring 4 or 6 bolt holes. Standard sizes are often around 24 inches (610mm) for 4-hole or 36 inches (914mm) for 6-hole variants, commonly used in railway track maintenance.
Common Lengths:
- 600mm - 800mm: Standard length for many ordinary, 4-hole to 6-hole fish plates.
- 914.4mm (36 inches): Common standard for 6-hole plates.
- 610mm (24 inches): Typical for 4-hole plates.
- 18 inches: Used in specific models.
- Specialty/Longer Plates: 1-meter (1000mm) fish plates are used for specific, high-density, or broken rail repairs.
- Context: Length depends on the rail section (e.g., UIC 60, BS 90R) and standard, such as AREMA, which often uses 24-inch or 36-inch lengths.
Fish plates provide necessary structural support and flexibility for thermal expansion, with 4-hole plates being more common on lighter rail, while 6-hole plates are used for heavier, higher-speed, or welded tracks.
What are the advantages of using an Ordinary Fish Plate?
Ordinary fish plates, or rail joints, are crucial components that securely connect rail ends, ensuring structural integrity, proper alignment, and safety in railway tracks. They distribute wheel loads to prevent track distortion, allow for necessary thermal expansion, reduce noise, and facilitate quick installation or repairs, making them ideal for traditional, non-welded rail sections.
Key Advantages of Ordinary Fish Plates:
- Structural Stability and Safety: They maintain the vertical and horizontal alignment of rails, connecting them securely to prevent misalignment and reduce the risk of derailments.
- Load Distribution: By connecting two rail ends, they effectively transfer the load of passing trains from one rail to the other, reducing stress on individual rail ends and preventing damage.
- Thermal Expansion Management: Ordinary fish plates permit small, managed shifts in rail length, allowing the tracks to expand and shrink in response to temperature changes, which prevents buckling or warping.
- Easy Installation and Maintenance: They allow for quick, straightforward installation, repair, and replacement of track sections, minimizing downtime compared to more complex systems.
- Adaptability: They are versatile and can be used in various types of rail tracks, including standard, temporary, or smaller-scale rail networks.
- Vibration Dampening: They help absorb the impact from train wheels, reducing noise and preventing fatigue cracks at the joints.
These advantages make ordinary fish plates an economical and effective choice for maintaining rail continuity and safety.
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.
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