What is a steel rail? - Knowledge

What is a steel rail?

A steel rail is a specially shaped, high-strength steel bar forming the essential guiding and load-bearing surface of railway tracks, providing a smooth path for trains, cranes, and other guided vehicles, while withstanding immense pressure and transferring it to sleepers (ties). These "I" or "U"-shaped profiles offer a durable, continuous, and low-resistance rolling surface, often made from medium to high carbon steel for hardness, toughness, and wear resistance, with specific designs for high-speed passenger lines, heavy freight, or industrial cranes.

heavy rail

Steel Rail Classification

The rail is the main part of railway track, and the function is to guide the vehicle wheels moving forward, withstanding the enormous pressure of the wheel and transferring to the sleepers. The steel rails can be classified into three types, crane rail, heavy rail and light rail.

Types of crane rail: QU120, QU100, QU80, QU70, the material is manganese steel.

steel 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

Types of heavy rail: ordinary manganese copper, copper carbon steel rail and high silicon copper steel rail.

track rail

Classification		Height(mm)	Head (mm)	Bottom (mm)	Thick(mm)	Weight (kg/m)
Heavy Rail	38 KG/M	134	68	114	13	38.733
	43 KG/M	140	70	114	14.5	44.653
	45 KG/M	145	67	126	14.5	45.546
	50 KG/M	152	70	132	15.5	51.514
	60 KG/M	176	73	150	16.5	60.64

Types of light rail: 9,12,15,22,30kg/m.

Classification		Height(mm)	Head (mm)	Bottom (mm)	Thick(mm)	Weight (kg/m)
Light Rail	8 KG/M	65	25	54	7	8.42
	9 KG/M	63.5	32.1	63.5	5.9	8.94
	12 KG/M	69.85	38.1	69.85	7.54	12.2
	15 KG/M	79.37	42.86	79.37	8.33	15.2
	18 KG/M	80	40	80	10	18.06
	22 KG/M	93.66	50.8	93.66	10.72	22.3
	24 KG/M	107	51	90	10.9	24.46
	30 KG/M	107.95	60.33	107.95	12.3	30.1

Different rail has a certain standard length. Each kind of rail track need s specific or matching steel rail. Such as the installation of broken rail, it should be replaced promptly to protect the safety of vehicles. Check the rail regularly in order to eliminate the hidden trouble. It is necessary to choose and install good quality, high wear resistance steel rails.

What is the purpose of Track Rail?

The purpose of track rails is to support, guide, and provide a low-friction surface for trains, enabling safe and efficient transportation by distributing heavy loads, controlling direction, and preventing derailments, forming the core structure for rolling stock to travel on.

Key Functions:

Support: Rails carry the immense weight of trains, distributing it across sleepers (ties) and ballast.

Guidance: They provide a continuous lateral guide, keeping wheels aligned and preventing the train from moving off the path.

Low Friction Surface: Steel rails offer a smooth, hard surface for steel wheels to roll on, minimizing resistance for faster, more economical travel.

light rail

Load Distribution: They spread the vertical and horizontal forces from the train evenly onto the supporting track bed.

Direction Control: Rails define the path of the train, allowing for controlled movement and switching.

Safety: They are crucial for stability, with features like safety rails on bridges and curves to contain the train if it derails.

Since 2008, GNEE RAIL has been supplying steel rails of different grades for more than 18 years, steel rails from GNEE is highly recommened in China and abroad.Wtih cutting edge equipment, GNEE 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 RAIL has been working on supplying economical green railway products all over the world.

Click here to obtain the detailed product catalog of GNEE RAIL.