Rail track, also called railroad rail, railroad track, steel rail and so on, is widely used in the railway track system. Together with the cooperation with the railroad switch, it can make trains running without turning to the other directions. In general, rail track is consist of two parallel steel tracks and lays steadily on the railway sleepers.
Specifications of typical rail tracks
In order to meet the different requirements of railway system, the rail tracks can divided into many types, such as GB standard, BS standard, AREMA standard, UIC standard, JIS standard, Australian standard, etc.
GB Rail
According to the GB standard railway track weight, the 43kg, 50kg and 60kg are widely used in the railway transportation.
- QU Crane Rail
| Classification | Height(mm) | Head (mm) | Bottom (mm) | Thick(mm) | Weight (kg/m) | |
| Crane Rail | QU 70 | 120 | 70 | 120 | 28 | 52.8 |
| QU 80 | 130 | 80 | 130 | 32 | 63.69 | |
| QU 100 | 150 | 100 | 150 | 38 | 88.96 | |
| QU 120 | 170 | 120 | 170 | 44 | 118.1 | |
-
43kg/m rail track size
| project | 43kg/m rail steel |
| Height of steel rail | ±0.8 |
| Width of railhead | ±0.5 |
| Rail on cross section | |
| Joint plate mounting surface slope | +1.0 -0.5 |
| Joint plate mounting surface height | ±0.6 |
| The thickness of the rail waist | +1.0 -0.5 |
| Rail bottom width | +1.0 -2.0 |
| Rail bottom edge thickness | |
| Rail bottom concave | |
| Section slope (vertical, horizontal direction) | ＜＝1.0 |
| Section of asymmetric | ±1.5 |
| Length (temperature of 20 degrees) |
| project | number | unit | |
| weight of per meter | 44.563 | kg | |
| sectional area | 57 | cm² | |
| the distance between center of gravity and rail base | 6.9 | cm | |
| moment of inertia on horizontal axis | 1489 | cm4 | |
| moment of inertia on vertical axis | 260 | ||
| the lower section coefficient | 217.3 | cm3 | |
| the upper section coefficient | 208.3 | ||
| the bottom section coefficient | Left45.0 right 45.0 | ||
| metal distribution | railhead | 42.83 | % |
| rail web | 21.31 | ||
| rail base | 35.86 | ||
-
50kg/m rail track size
| project | 50-75/m |
| Height of steel rail | ±0.6 |
| Width of railhead | ±0.5 |
| Rail on cross section | |
| Joint plate mounting surface slope | +1.0 -0.5 |
| Joint plate mounting surface height | +0.6 -0.5 |
| The thickness of the rail waist | +1.0 -0.5 |
| Rail bottom width | +1.0 -1.5 |
| Rail bottom edge thickness | +0.75 -0.5 |
| Rail bottom concave | |
| Section slope (vertical, horizontal direction) | ＜＝0.8 |
| Section of asymmetric | ±1.2 |
| Length (temperature of 20 degrees) |
| project | number | unit | |
| weight of per meter | 51.514 | kg | |
| sectional area | 65.8 | cm² | |
| the distance between center of gravity and rail base | 7.1 | cm | |
| moment of inertia on horizontal axis | 2037 | cm4 | |
| moment of inertia on vertical axis | 377 | ||
| the lower section coefficient | 287.2 | cm3 | |
| the upper section coefficient | 251.3 | ||
| the bottom section coefficient | left&right 57.1 | ||
| metal distribution | railhead | 38.68 | % |
| rail web | 23.77 | ||
| rail base | 37.55 | ||
-
60kg/m rail track size
| project | 60kg/m rail steel | |
| 250km/h | 350km/h | |
| Height of steel rail | ±0.6 | |
| Width of railhead | ±0.5 | |
| Rail on cross section | ±0.6 | +0.6 -0.3 |
| Joint plate mounting surface slope | +1.0 -0.5 |
±3.5 |
| Joint plate mounting surface height | +0.6 -0.5 |
|
| The thickness of the rail waist | +1.0 -0.5 |
|
| Rail bottom width | ±1.0 | |
| Rail bottom edge thickness | +0.75 -0.5 |
|
| Rail bottom concave | ＜＝0.3 | |
| Section slope (vertical, horizontal direction) | ＜＝0.6 | |
| Section of asymmetric | ±1.2 | |
| Length (temperature of 20 degrees) | ±3.0 | |
| project | number | unit | |
| weight of per meter | 60.643 | kg | |
| sectional area | 77.45 | cm² | |
| the distance between center of gravity and rail base | 8.12 | cm | |
| moment of inertia on horizontal axis | 3217 | cm4 | |
| moment of inertia on vertical axis | 524 | ||
| the lower section coefficient | 396 | cm3 | |
| the upper section coefficient | 339.4 | ||
| the bottom section coefficient | left69.9 right69.9 | ||
| metal distribution | railhead | 37.47 | % |
| rail web | 25.29 | ||
| rail base | 37.24 | ||
-
AREMA standard rail track
| Standard: ASTMA1, AREMA | |||||||
| Size | Dimension(mm) | Weight (kg/m) |
Material | Length (m) | |||
| Head(mm) | Height(mm) | Bottom(mm) | Web(mm) | ||||
| ASCE 25 | 38.1 | 69.85 | 69.85 | 7.54 | 12.4 | 700 | 6-12 |
| ASCE 30 | 42.86 | 79.38 | 79.38 | 8.33 | 14.88 | 700 | 6-12 |
| ASCE 40 | 47.62 | 88.9 | 88.9 | 9.92 | 19.84 | 700 | 6-12 |
| ASCE 60 | 60.32 | 107.95 | 107.95 | 12.3 | 29.76 | 700 | 6-12 |
| ASCE 75 | 62.71 | 122.24 | 122.24 | 13.49 | 37.2 | 900A/1100 | 12-25 |
| ASCE 85 | 65.09 | 131.76 | 131.76 | 14.29 | 42.17 | 900A/1100 | 12-25 |
| 90RA | 65.09 | 142.88 | 130.18 | 14.29 | 44.65 | 900A/1100 | 12-25 |
| 115RE | 69.06 | 168.28 | 139.7 | 15.88 | 56.9 | 900A/1100 | 12-25 |
| 136RE | 74.61 | 185.74 | 152.4 | 17.46 | 67.41 | 900A/1100 | 12-25 |
| 175LBs | 109.86 | 152.4 | 152.4 | 38.1 | 86.8 | 900A/1100 | 12-25 |
-
BS standard rail track
| Standard: BS11: 1985 | |||||||
| Size | Dimension(mm) | Weight (kg/m) |
Material | Length (m) | |||
| Head(mm) | Height(mm) | Bottom(mm) | Web(mm) | ||||
| 50 O | 52.39 | 100.01 | 100.01 | 10.32 | 24.833 | 700 | 6-18 |
| 60 A | 57.15 | 114.3 | 109.54 | 11.11 | 30.618 | 900A | 6-18 |
| 75 A | 61.91 | 128.59 | 114.3 | 12.7 | 37.455 | 900A | 8-25 |
| 75 R | 61.91 | 128.59 | 122.24 | 13.1 | 37.041 | 900A | 8-25 |
| 80 A | 63.5 | 133.35 | 117.47 | 13.1 | 39.761 | 900A | 8-25 |
| 80 R | 63.5 | 133.35 | 127 | 13.49 | 39.674 | 900A | 8-25 |
| 90 A | 66.67 | 142.88 | 127 | 13.89 | 45.099 | 900A | 8-25 |
| 100 A | 69.85 | 152.4 | 133.35 | 15.08 | 50.182 | 900A | 8-25 |
| 113 A | 69.85 | 158.75 | 139.7 | 20 | 56.398 | 900A | 8-25 |
-
UIC standard rail track
| Standard: UIC860 | |||||||
| Size | Dimension(mm) | Weight (kg/m) |
Material | Length (m) | |||
| Head(mm) | Height(mm) | Bottom(mm) | Web(mm) | ||||
| UIC50 | 70 | 152 | 125 | 15 | 50.46 | 900A/1100 | 12-25 |
| UIC54 | 70 | 159 | 140 | 16 | 54.43 | 900A/1100 | 12-25 |
| UIC60 | 74.3 | 172 | 150 | 16.5 | 60.21 | 900A/1100 | 12-25 |
-
JIS standard rail track
| Standard: JIS E1103-91/JISE 1101-93 | |||||||
| Size | Dimension(mm) | Weight (kg/m) |
Material | Length (m) | |||
| Head(mm) | Height(mm) | Bottom(mm) | Web(mm) | ||||
| JIS 15KG | 42.86 | 79.37 | 79.37 | 8.33 | 15.2 | JIS E standard | 9-10 |
| JIS 22KG | 50.8 | 93.66 | 93.66 | 10.72 | 22.3 | 9-10 | |
| JIS 30KG | 60.33 | 107.95 | 107.95 | 12.3 | 30.1 | 9-10 | |
| JIS 37Ａ | 62.71 | 122.24 | 122.24 | 13.49 | 37.2 | 10-25 | |
| JIS 50N | 65 | 153 | 127 | 15 | 50.4 | 10-25 | |
| CR 73 | 100 | 135 | 140 | 32 | 73.3 | 10-12 | |
| CR 100 | 120 | 150 | 155 | 39 | 100.2 | 10-12 | |
-
DIN standard rail track
| Standard: DIN536 | |||||||
| Size | Dimension(mm) | Weight (kg/m) |
Material | Length (m) | |||
| Head(mm) | Height(mm) | Bottom(mm) | Web(mm) | ||||
| A55 | 55 | 65 | 150 | 31 | 31.8 | 900A | 10-12 |
| A65 | 65 | 75 | 175 | 38 | 43.1 | 900A | 10-12 |
| A75 | 75 | 85 | 200 | 45 | 56.2 | 900A | 10-12 |
| A100 | 100 | 95 | 200 | 60 | 74.3 | 900A | 10-12 |
| A120 | 120 | 105 | 220 | 72 | 100 | 900A | 10-12 |
-
EN standard rail track
| Standard: EN 13674-1-2003 | |||||||
| Size | Dimension(mm) | Weight (kg/m) |
Material | Length (m) | |||
| Head(mm) | Height(mm) | Bottom(mm) | Web(mm) | ||||
| 49 E1 | 67 | 149 | 125 | 14 | 49.39 | R260/R350HT | 12-25 |
| 49 E2 | 67 | 148 | 125 | 14 | 49.1 | R260/R350HT | 12-25 |
| 50 E1 | 65 | 153 | 134 | 15.5 | 50.37 | R260/R350HT | 12-25 |
| 50 E2 | 72 | 151 | 140 | 15 | 49.97 | R260/R350HT | 12-25 |
| 50 E4 | 70 | 152 | 125 | 15 | 50.46 | R260/R350HT | 12-25 |
| 50 E5 | 67 | 148 | 135 | 14 | 49.9 | R260/R350HT | 12-25 |
| 50 E6 | 65 | 153 | 140 | 15.5 | 50.9 | R260/R350HT | 12-25 |
| 54 E1 | 70 | 159 | 140 | 16 | 54.77 | R260/R350HT | 12-25 |
| 54 E2 | 67.01 | 161 | 125 | 16 | 53.82 | R260/R350HT | 12-25 |
| 54 E3 | 67 | 154 | 125 | 16 | 54.57 | R260/R350HT | 12-25 |
| 55 E1 | 62 | 155 | 134 | 19 | 56.03 | R260/R350HT | 12-25 |
| 60 E1 | 72 | 172 | 150 | 16.5 | 60.21 | R260/R350HT | 12-25 |
-
Grooved rail track
| Size | Height (mm) | Bottom (mm) | Head A (mm) | Head B(mm) | Channel A (mm) | Channel B (mm) | Web (mm) | Weight (kg/m) |
| 59R1 | 180 | 180 | 113 | 56 | 42 | 15 | 12 | 58.97 |
| 59R2 | 180 | 180 | 113 | 55.83 | 42.52 | 14.65 | 12 | 58.14 |
| 60R1 | 180 | 180 | 113 | 56 | 36 | 21 | 12 | 60.59 |
| 60R2 | 180 | 180 | 113 | 55.83 | 36.34 | 20.83 | 12 | 59.75 |
-
South African standard rail track
| South African Standard Railway | |||||||
|
standard:ISCOR |
|||||||
| Size | Dimension | Weight (kg/m) | Length (m) |
Material | |||
| Head(mm) | Height(mm) | Bottom(mm) | Web(mm) | ||||
| 15KG | 41.28 | 76.2 | 76.2 | 7.54 | 14.905 | 9 |
700 |
| 22KG | 50.01 | 95.25 | 95.25 | 9.92 | 22.542 | 9 | |
| 30KG | 57.15 | 109.54 | 109.54 | 11.5 | 30.25 | 9 | |
| 40KG | 63.5 | 127 | 127 | 14 | 40.31 | 9-25 |
900A |
| 48KG | 68 | 150 | 127 | 14 | 47.6 | 9-25 | |
| 57KG | 71.2 | 165 | 140 | 16 | 57.4 | 9-25 | |
-
Australian standard rail track
| Australian Standard Railway | |||||||
|
standard:AS1085 |
|||||||
| Size | Dimension | Weight (kg/m) | Length (m) |
Material | |||
| Head(mm) | Height(mm) | Bottom(mm) | Web(mm) | ||||
| 31KG | 63.5 | 117.5 | 108 | 11.5 | 31.5 | 8-25 | 900A/1100 |
| 47KG | 70 | 141.3 | 127 | 14.3 | 46.5 | ||
| 50KG | 70 | 154 | 127 | 15 | 50.8 | ||
| 60KG | 70 | 170 | 146 | 16.5 | 61 | ||
| 68KG | 73.4 | 186 | 152 | 17.5 | 67.6 | ||
| 73KG | 70 | 157 | 146 | 32 | 73.63 | ||
| 86KG | 102 | 102 | 155 | 84.11 | 85.5 | ||
| 89KG | 102 | 114 | 178 | 51 | 89.81 | ||
The Importance of Choosing the Right Steel Rail
Selecting the appropriate rail is crucial for railway systems. It not only directly ensures traffic safety by withstanding the pressure, thrust, and friction generated by trains through sufficient strength and toughness to prevent rail fracture or deformation, but also effectively adapts to different transportation scenarios-such as the high-precision long rails for high-speed railways and wear-resistant rails for heavy-haul railways-to meet speed and load requirements. Meanwhile, high-quality rails can reduce wheel-rail friction, minimize energy consumption and wheel wear, extend service life, and lower maintenance costs and line disruption losses. Additionally, suitable rails ensure coordination with track structures like sleepers and fastenings, comply with relevant technical standards, and achieve the unity of safety, efficiency, and economy in railway transportation.
Since 2008, GNEE RAILWAY RAILWAYL has been supplying steel rails of different grades for more than 18 years, steel rails from GNEE RAILWAY is highly recommened in China and abroad.Wtih cutting edge equipment, GNEE RAILWAY produces high quality steel rails that meet with requirements of most countries. Standard rail, head hardened rail, heavy rail,light rail,crane rail and other types are all available here, as one of the China main rail supplier, GNEE RAILWAY RAILWAYL has been working on supplying economical green railway products all over the world.
