What is the joint of two railway tracks?
A rail joint is the connection point between two railway tracks, designed to hold rail ends securely in place horizontally and vertically. It is considered the weakest part of the track, often composed of metal plates known as fishplates (or splice bars) bolted together through the rail ends.
GNEE RAIL manufactures fish plates for GB light and heavy rails, UIC standard rails, DIN536 and QU crane rails, JIS rails, AS1085 profiles, BS11 rails, and AREMA/ASCE sections, supported by rail–joint compatibility verification.
Key Components and Types of Rail Joints:
- Fishplates (Joint Bars): Steel plates that are bolted to the sides of the rails to connect them.
- Fish Bolts: High-carbon steel bolts and nuts used with fishplates to secure the joint.
Common Types:
- Bolted Joints: Conventional method using fishplates.
- Welded Joints: Continuous welded rails (CWR) used to create a smoother, stronger, and more durable connection.
- Insulated Joints: Special joints used in signaling zones to break electric circuits.
- Compromise Joints: Used to connect rails of different sizes.
| Joint Type | Key Specification / Description |
| Standard Rail Joint (Fish Plate) | - Profile: Matches the rail section (e.g., UIC 60, 136RE). |
| - Length: Typically 600mm or 800mm per side. | |
| - Holes: 4 or 6 bolt holes per bar. | |
| Insulated Rail Joint (IRJ) | - Material: Steel core with composite insulating end-posts/plates, or full epoxy composite. |
| - Electrical Resistance: >10⁸ Ω. | |
| Compromise Rail Joint | - Design: Connects two different rail profiles (e.g., UIC 54 to UIC 60). |
| - Profile: Each side is machined to match its respective rail section. | |
| Joggled Rail Joint | - Feature: Has a depressed (joggled) section to allow continuous rail head surface for smoother wheel passage. |
| Bridge Rail Joint | - Design: Often reinforced (thicker web/longer length) for high-stress locations like bridge approaches. |
| Glued Insulated Joint | - Construction: Steel bars bonded to composite insulation using high-strength adhesive for improved durability. |
| Welded Rail Joint (for CWR) | - Type: Flash-butt or thermite weld. |
| - Specification: Weld must meet mechanical properties equal to or greater than the parent rail. | |
| Expansion Joint (for BRE) | - Feature: Allows controlled thermal expansion in long rails on bridges or in extreme temperature zones. |
What are the common specifications for rail joint bars?
Common rail joint bars (fishplates) are designed to match specific rail profiles (e.g., AREMA, UIC, BS) and typically feature 4 or 6 bolt holes, with 24-inch or 36-inch lengths, respectively. Key specifications include high-strength steel (45#, 50Mn, 42CrMo), heat treatment for durability, precise bolt hole spacing (e.g., 6"x6"x7-1/8"x6"x6"), and specialized profiles for head easement.
Common Specifications for Rail Joint Bars:
- Standards & Profiles: Designed to meet AREMA (e.g., 115RE, 132-136RE), UIC (e.g., UIC54, UIC60), or British Standard (BS) specifications.
| Standard | Type | Length/Diameter | Weight /Material | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AREMA 2007 | 115RE | 4 hole-24" | 17.04Kg | 45# chemical |
| 115RE | 6 hole-36" | 25.56Kg | composition(%): | |
| 132-136RE | 4 hole-24" | 17.75Kg | C: 0.42-0.50 | |
| 132-136RE | 6 hole-36" | 26.63Kg | Mn: 0.50-0.80 | |
| UIC864 | UIC60 | 4 hole-630/Φ26 | 18.07Kg | Si: 0.17-0.37 |
| UIC60 | 4 hole-600/Φ28 | 17.47Kg | Cr: ≤0.25 | |
| UIC60 | 4 hole-630/Φ25 | 18.1Kg | P: ≤0.035 | |
| UIC54 | 4 hole | 14.34Kg | S: ≤0.035 | |
| UIC54 | 6 hole-800 | 19.94Kg | ||
| BS 47-1 | BS75R | 4 hole | 6.56Kg | |
| BS60A | 4 hole | 5.61Kg | ||
| BS80A | 4 hole | 6.5Kg | ||
| BS90A | 685.8/Φ26 | 13.23Kg | 50# chemical | |
| BS90A | 792.9/Φ26.2 | 15.34Kg | composition(%): | |
| BS100A | 4 hole | C: 0.62-0.70 | ||
| 90/91LB | 4 hole | 18.08Kg | Mn: 0.50-0.80 | |
| 90/91LB | 6 hole | 19.9Kg | Si: 0.17-0.37 | |
| AS | 50kg | 4 hole | 14.3Kg | Cr: ≤0.25 |
| 50kg | 6 hole | 19.5Kg | P: ≤0.035 | |
| S49 | 4 hole | 9.71Kg | S: ≤0.035 |
Dimensions:
- Length: Typically 24 inches (4-hole) for smaller rails or 36 inches (6-hole) for larger rails.
- Height: Often 4-11/16 inches for standard RE rail sections.
- Material: Usually hot-rolled or forged carbon steel (e.g., 45#, 50Mn, 55#) or alloy steel (42CrMo) to ensure strength and elasticity.
| Material Type | Typical Grade / Designation | Chemical Composition (wt%) | Notes / Equivalent Standards |
| Carbon Structural Steel | Q235 (GB/T 700) | C: ≤0.22 | Common mild steel for general joint bars. Similar to ASTM A36, S235JR. |
| Si: ≤0.35 | |||
| Mn: 0.30-0.65 | |||
| P: ≤0.045 | |||
| S: ≤0.045 | |||
| Carbon Structural Steel | Q255 (GB/T 700) | C: 0.18-0.28 | Slightly higher strength than Q235. |
| Si: ≤0.35 | |||
| Mn: 0.40-0.70 | |||
| P: ≤0.045 | |||
| S: ≤0.045 | |||
| Medium Carbon Steel | 50Mn / 50BA (GOST 10779) | C: 0.47-0.55 | Classic high-strength fish plate steel. Widely used for mainline joints. |
| Si: 0.17-0.37 | |||
| Mn: 0.80-1.20 | |||
| P: ≤0.040 | |||
| S: ≤0.045 | |||
| Medium Carbon Steel | 55# (GB/T 699) | C: 0.52-0.60 | Standard medium carbon steel for demanding applications. Similar to AISI 1055. |
| Si: 0.17-0.37 | |||
| Mn: 0.50-0.80 | |||
| P: ≤0.035 | |||
| S: ≤0.035 | |||
| Alloy Steel | 42CrMo (GB/T 3077) | C: 0.38-0.45 | High-strength, high-toughness alloy for severe service. Similar to AISI 4140/4142. |
| Si: 0.17-0.37 | |||
| Mn: 0.50-0.80 | |||
| Cr: 0.90-1.20 | |||
| Mo: 0.15-0.25 | |||
| P: ≤0.035 | |||
| S: ≤0.035 | |||
| Spheroidal Graphite Cast Iron | QT450-10 (GB/T 1348) | C: 3.60-3.90 | Used in some traditional/joint kits for its castability and damping properties. Similar to EN-GJS-450-10. |
| Si: 2.00-3.00 | |||
| Mn: ≤0.50 | |||
| P: ≤0.07 | |||
| S: ≤0.015 | |||
| Mg: 0.03-0.06 (Nodulizer) | |||
| Insulating Composite Material | Epoxy Fiberglass / FRP | Base: Epoxy Resin | No metallic elements. Provides electrical insulation (Resistivity >10¹² Ω·cm), corrosion resistance. |
| Reinforcement: E-Glass Fiber (>60%) | |||
| Additives: Hardener, fillers (e.g., SiO₂) |
- Bolt Holes: Holes are typically punched or drilled, often with an elliptical shape to accommodate oval-necked track bolts.
- Heat Treatment: Quenching and tempering, normalizing, or high-frequency quenching to improve tensile strength and fatigue life.
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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