What is the difference between crane rail and train rail?
Crane rails and train rails both guide wheeled vehicles but differ in design for their unique loads: train rails focus on long-distance stability for high-speed, heavy trains with standard I-beams, while crane rails (like QU-type) have wider heads and thicker webs for massive, concentrated vertical loads and lateral forces from heavy industrial cranes, needing higher local strength and durability in factories or docks.
What is crane rail?
A crane rail is a heavy-duty steel track, distinct from railway tracks, designed to support and guide the precise horizontal movement of cranes (like overhead or gantry cranes) in industrial settings, factories, and ports, handling massive loads with high strength and wear resistance for efficient material handling.
The QU series crane rails provided by GNEE RAIL are the most widely used crane rail types in China and comply with the latest Chinese standard YB/T 5055-2014. It is specially designed for crane trolley and trolley tracks, suitable for bridge cranes, gantry cranes, whether they are light, medium, large or heavy-duty. These rails are known for their high strength and durability, making them suitable as a choice for your lifting needs.
| Classification | Height(mm) | Head (mm) | Bottom (mm) | Thick(mm) | Weight (kg/m) | |
| 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 | |
What is steel rail?
A steel rail is a specialized, heavy steel bar forming the essential guide and load-bearing surface for trains and trams, providing a smooth, low-resistance path for wheels while withstanding immense pressure, impact, and wear, transferring forces to sleepers and the ground. Made from high-carbon or alloy steels for durability, rails are produced in long lengths, joined by bolts or welding into continuous tracks for various railway applications, including high-speed lines.
| 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 | |
GNEE RAIL is a top rail fasteners provider from China, we supply various railway fasteners like railway fish plate, railroad spike, rail clips, track bolts and nuts, rail tie plates, and etc. Our products are all ISO 9001:2008 and SGS certified, and had been exported to a lot of countries worldwide. With advanced technology and large production capacity, we can produce AREMA, BS, UIC, DIN, GB, and other international standard rail products, besides, non-standard are available.
At GNEE RAIL, we specialize in providing a full range of rail components, including heavy rail,light rail, crane rail and rail fastening, as well as matching high-performance rail clips and fastening solutions. Backed by strict quality control and industry certifications, our products are engineered to meet international standards and diverse project demands.
