Rail clip is a component of railway fastening systems. It is used to fix the railroad track to the underlying baseplate and sleepers. The clamping force by rail clips helps to maintain the gauge and prevent the rail from moving in the vertical and horizontal direction relative to the sleeper. One extensively used type of rail clip is an elastic rail clip made of hot-pressed spring steel.

The role of rail elastic clips in railways
Rail clips are crucial components in railway fastening systems, primarily responsible for securely holding steel rails to sleepers, preventing unwanted vertical horizontal movement, maintaining consistent rail gauge, absorbing shock and vibration from passing trains, and ensuring overall track stability and safety for reliable train operations. They work under intense, repeated stress (bending, torsion, fatigue) and their elastic nature helps dampen dynamic forces, making them essential for safe, efficient rail transport.
Key Roles of Rail Clips:
- Securing Rails: They fasten the steel rail to the sleepers (or baseplates), creating a reliable connection.
- Maintaining Gauge: By preventing lateral (sideways) movement, they ensure the correct distance between rails (gauge), vital for wheel guidance.

- Preventing Movement: They stop rails from shifting longitudinally (along the track) and vertically (up/down) relative to the sleeper.
- Shock & Vibration Absorption: Their elastic design deforms under load, absorbing impact energy and reducing noise and vibration caused by train wheels.
- Ensuring Integrity: They maintain the overall coherence and stability of the track structure, preventing components from loosening or warping.

- Withstanding Stress: Made from spring steel, they endure significant bending, twisting, fatigue, and high instantaneous loads from heavy trains.
| Material | 60Si2MnA | 60Si2CrA | 55Si2Mn | 38Si7 |
| Chemical composition(%) | C:0.56-0.64, Mn:0.60-0.90, Si:1.60-2.00, Cr:≤0.35, P:≤0.03, S:≤0.03 | C:0.56-0.64, Mn:0.40-0.70, Si:1.40-1.80,Cr:0.70-1.00 P:≤0.03, S:≤0.03 | C:0.52-0.60, Mn:0.60-0.90, Si:1.50-2.00,Cr:≤0.35 P:≤0.03, S:≤0.03 | C:0.35-0.42, Mn:0.50-0.80, Si:1.50-1.80, P:≤0.03, S:≤0.03 |
Types of rail clip
- According to specific situation and habit, various countries adopts different standard of rail clips to apply for development of railway. Typically, the Pandrol series of rail clip is the most famous brand among rail clip types. PR- clip, E-clip are widely separated to America, Canada, India and other countries.
- In German, HM-type rail fastening system is very popular, it adopts SKL-clip. Based on the good effect, it is applied to a lot of countries and regions.
- Dutch DE type railway fastening system and FIST rail fastening system all adopt rail clips, they all have good application.
- Japan and France adopts clips as rail fastening system, Nabla rail fastening system and 102 type fastening system are hot on the market.

| Model | Diameter | Weight | Material |
| Type III | Ø18 | 0.80kg/pc | 60Si2MnA |
| E1609 | Ø16 | 0.43 kg/pc | 60Si2MnA |
| E1809 | Ø20 | 0.61kg/pc | 60Si2MnA |
| E1813 | Ø18 | 0.62kg/pc | 60Si2MnA |
| E2001 | Ø20 | 0.80kg/pc | 60Si2MnA |
| E2007 | Ø20 | 0.80kg/pc | 60Si2MnA |
| E2009 | Ø20 | 0.80kg/pc | 60Si2MnA |
| E2039 | Ø20 | 0.80kg/pc | 60Si2MnA |
| E2055 | Ø20 | 0.80kg/pc | 60Si2MnA |
| E2056 | Ø20 | 0.80kg/pc | 60Si2MnA |
| E2063 | Ø20 | 0.80kg/pc | 60Si2MnA |
| PR85 Rail Clip | Ø13 | 0.25kg/pc | 60Si2MnA |
| PR309A | Ø19 | 0.85kg/pc | 60Si2MnA |
| PR401 | Ø20 | 0.97kg/pc | 60Si2MnA |
| PR415 | Ø20 | 0.95kg/pc | 60Si2MnA |
| PR601A | Ø20 | 1.03kg/pc | 38Si7 |
| SKL 1 | Ø13 | 0.48kg/pc | 60Si2CrA |
| SKL 3 | Ø13 | 0.48kg/pc | 60Si2CrA |
| SKL 12 | Ø13 | 0.53kg/pc | 38Si7 |
| SKL 14 | Ø13 | 0.53kg/pc | 60Si2MnA |
| Special Rail Clip | Ø13 | 0.48kg/pc | 60Si2MnA |
| Russia Rail Clip | Ø18 | 0.58kg/pc | 60Si2MnA |
| Deenik Clip | Ø25 | 0.49-0.68kg/pc | 60Si2MnA |
| Single Anti- | Ø20 | 0.25kg/pc | 60Si2MnA |
| Theft |
GNEE RAIL offer an extensive range of rail clips with optimum quality, these rail clips are designed with high precision and made up of premium grade spring steel. GNEE has been the largest and most competitive production base of rail clip in China after more than 18 years' rail clip producing experience, and have qualification to tender nationally large and medium scaled rail projects. What's more, our rail clip can be customized according to clients' requirements.






