Light Steel Rail
Steel rails are one of the most fundamental components of any railway system. They serve as the load-bearing track structure that guides railway vehicles, supports axle loads, and ensures smooth and safe operation. Without properly designed rails, railway transportation-whether industrial, mining, or urban-would not be possible.
What Is a Steel Rail?
A steel rail is a hot-rolled steel profile with a specific cross-sectional shape, typically consisting of a head, web, and foot. The head directly contacts the wheels, the web transfers loads, and the foot distributes forces to sleepers and the foundation. Steel rails must provide sufficient strength, wear resistance, and dimensional stability under repeated loading.
What Is a GB Standard Steel Rail?
GB (Guobiao) standards are Chinese national standards developed to ensure consistency, safety, and interchangeability across industrial products. GB standard steel rails define requirements for chemical composition, mechanical properties, dimensional tolerances, surface quality, and testing methods. GB rails are widely accepted in global markets due to their stable quality and cost efficiency.
What Does "Light Steel Rail" Mean?
Light steel rails typically refer to rails with lower unit weight per meter, generally ranging from 8kg/m to 30kg/m. These rails are designed for lighter loads, lower speeds, and shorter transportation distances. They are commonly used in mining railways, industrial plants, workshops, ports, and temporary rail systems.
Steel rails
The GB 24kg steel rail is a typical light rail model, balancing load capacity and ease of installation. It is widely used in industrial rail systems where heavy-duty rails are not required.
Table 1: Basic Dimensions of GB 24kg Steel Rail
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight per meter | 24 kg/m |
| Rail height | ~107 mm |
| Head width | ~51 mm |
| Web thickness | ~10 mm |
| Base width | ~92 mm |
| Standard length | 6 m / 9 m / 12 m |
Table 2: Typical Mechanical Properties (Reference)
| Property | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Yield strength | ≥ 440 MPa |
| Tensile strength | 650–880 MPa |
| Elongation | ≥ 10% |
| Hardness (HB) | 240–300 |
Comparison with Other Light Rail Specifications
To better understand the position of the 24kg rail, it is useful to compare it with other commonly used light steel rails.
Table 3: Light Steel Rail Comparison
| Rail Type | Weight (kg/m) | Typical Application |
|---|---|---|
| 18kg rail | 18 | Temporary tracks, light trolleys |
| 22kg rail | 22 | Factory internal transport |
| 24kg rail | 24 | Mining, industrial lines |
| 30kg rail | 30 | Heavier industrial railways |
The 24kg rail offers improved load capacity compared to 18kg and 22kg rails, while remaining more economical and easier to install than 30kg rails.
Typical Applications
Underground and surface mining railways
Industrial plants and warehouses
Port logistics rail systems
Short-distance material transport lines
Temporary or mobile railway tracks
Packaging and shipping
Why Choose GB 24kg Light Steel Rail?
Stable GB standard dimensions
Good balance between strength and weight
Easy installation and maintenance
Suitable for medium-load industrial transport
Cost-effective for long-term operation
GNEE STEEL supplies GB standard 24kg light steel rails with stable quality and flexible lengths. In addition to light rails, we also provide:
Other GB light steel rails (18kg, 22kg, 30kg)
Heavy-duty rails for industrial railways
Rail fasteners, fish plates, rail clips, and bolts
Complete railway track solutions
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| Crance 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 | |
