What is a fish plate connection?
A fish plate connection (or rail joint) is a metal, splice-bar joint used in railway engineering to connect two rails end-to-end. Bolted to the sides of the rail web, these steel plates maintain structural continuity, alignment, and stability for trains, while allowing for thermal expansion and contraction of the track.
Key Features and Functions:
- Structure: Typically, two steel plates are placed on opposite sides of the rail joint (one on the inner, one on the outer side) and secured with high-strength bolts.
- Material: Usually made of rolled or forged steel (e.g., M54-grade steel) to withstand heavy loads.
- Purpose: The primary role is to ensure a smooth, secure connection that keeps rails aligned vertically and horizontally.
- Types: Standard, insulated (for signalling), and joggled types exist to meet different track requirements.
Benefits:
- Stability: Distributes wheel loads evenly across joints to minimize wear.
- Safety: Prevents misalignment that could lead to derailments.
- Thermal Movement: Allows for slight expansion/contraction in varying temperatures.
Rail Joint (Fish Plate) Specification
| Parameter | Description & Common Standards |
|---|---|
| Product Name | Rail Joint Bar / Fish Plate / Splice Bar |
| Function | Connects two rail ends, maintains alignment, and transmits load across the joint. |
| Applicable Rail Sections | - UIC Series: UIC 54, UIC 60 - BS Series: BS 75R, BS 90A, BS 100A - AREMA Series: 115RE, 136RE - GB Series: 50 kg/m, 60 kg/m, 75 kg/m - AS Series: AS 50, AS 60, AS 68 - Crane Rail Series: QU70, QU80, QU100, QU120 |
| Common Types | - Standard Joint Bar: 4-bolt, 6-bolt patterns. - Compromise Joint Bar: Connects two different rail sections. - Insulated Joint Bar (IJB): Electrically isolates track circuits, made with composite materials or coated steel. - Joggled Joint Bar: Has a depressed section to allow smooth wheel passage over the gap. |
| Standard Length | Typically 600mm, 800mm, or 1000mm per side. Longer bars provide greater stiffness. |
| Hole Pattern & Fastening | - Bolt Hole Quantity: Usually 4 or 6 holes per bar side. - Bolt Diameter: 24mm, 22mm, 1 inch are common. - Hole Spacing: Standardized per rail profile (e.g., ~150mm between holes). |
What are the characteristics of a rail joint?
Rail joints (or fishplates) are structural components used to connect rail ends, ensuring track continuity, stability, and safety. Key characteristics include maintaining vertical/horizontal alignment, providing expansion gaps for temperature changes, offering similar strength/stiffness as the rail, and allowing easy, cost-effective installation/maintenance.
Key Characteristics and Components
- Structure: Comprised of two joint bars (fishplates) bolted together with 4 to 6 high-strength bolts, usually placed in the web of the rail.
- Expansion & Contraction: Designed to manage thermal expansion by providing a small gap between rail ends, preventing warping or damage.
- Strength & Rigidity: Ideal joints must match the stiffness of the parent rails to prevent dipping, buckling, or "wheel jumping" at the connection point.
- Maintenance Features: Designed to allow quick removal of rail sections for repair.
- Types: Common types include supported, suspended, bridge, insulated, and compromise joints (for connecting different rail sections).
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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