What is the hardness of rail steel? - Knowledge

Rail track, also known as railroad rail, it is the main components of railroad track. The rail track guide vehicle wheels to go forward, and bear the load from wheels and transfer the load to the railway sleepers. There are some kinds of rail track including light rail, heavy rail and crane rail. Light rail and heavy rail is classified with the weight per meter of rail. Light rail usually include 8kg, 15kg, 18kg, 22kg, etc. Heavy rail includes 38kg, 43kg and so on.

steel rail

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
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

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.

What is the hardness of rail steel?

Rail steel hardness varies significantly by section and treatment, but generally ranges from 200 to over 400 Brinell Hardness (HB), with the head being the hardest (300-400 HB) for wear resistance, the web moderately hard (250-300 HB) for flexibility, and the base softer (200-250 HB) for toughness, balancing performance and durability.

Hardness Variation in a Single Rail

Rail Head (Running Surface): Hardest part, often 300-400 HB, sometimes higher with head hardening, to resist wheel contact wear.

Rail Web: Moderate hardness (around 250-300 HB) for support and flexibility.

Rail Base (Foot): Softest part (around 200-250 HB) to prevent brittle fracture and absorb stress when fastened.

train rail

Typical Hardness Ranges

Standard Rails: Can be around 248 HB initially, with modern designs reaching over 400 HB.

Premium/High-Strength Rails: Often heat-treated or head-hardened to achieve hardness levels from 340 HB to over 400 HB for extended life.

General Range: Bulk hardness can fall between 200 HB and 440 HB depending on grade and treatment.

Factors Influencing Hardness

Material Composition: Higher carbon content increases hardness.

heavy rail

Steel Grade	C(%)	Si	Mn	Cr	V	P	S	Tensile Strength (Rm/MPa)
U71Mn	0.65~0.76	0.15~0.58	0.70~1.40	–	–	≤0.035	≤0.030	≥880
U75V	0.71~0.80	0.50~0.80	0.75~1.05	–	0.04~0.12	≤0.035	≤0.030	≥980
U78CrV	0.72~0.82	0.50~0.80	0.70~1.05	0.30~0.50	0.04~0.12	≤0.035	≤0.030	≥1080
U77MnCr	0.72~0.82	0.10~0.50	0.80~1.10	0.25~0.40	–	≤0.035	≤0.025	≥980
U76CrRE	0.71~0.81	0.50~0.80	0.80~1.10	0.25~0.35	0.04~0.08	≤0.035	≤0.025	≥1080

Heat Treatment: Quenching and tempering significantly boost hardness and strength.

Work Hardening: The rail head becomes even harder in service due to continuous wheel contact.

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.

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