What is the weight of Rail profile 115RE?
For railroad engineers, track layout designers, and procurement managers, calculating the exact weight of a track system is a fundamental step in project planning. Among the most popular American standard rails used today, the 115RE profile stands out as a highly reliable choice for modern rail infrastructure.
If you are looking to design a new track layout, verify technical drawings, or buy 115 RE rail, understanding the precise weight and dimensional specifications of this profile is critical. This guide provides the official imperial and metric measurements for the 115RE Rail Profile, analyzes standard design tolerances, and shares practical formulas for calculating logistics requirements.
Quick Answer: What is the Weight of the 115RE Rail?
The standard nominal weight of the AREMA 115RE Rail is 114.7 pounds per yard, which translates directly to 56.9 kilograms per meter ( kg/m ) in metric terms.
In European and international standards, this specific cross-section is designated as the TR57 profile. Whether your technical drawings refer to it as the 115RE (TR57) Railway Rail or the standard AREMA 115lb rail, the weight per unit length remains identical at 56.9 kg/m
115RE Dimensional Specifications
When evaluating the 115RE profile, minor discrepancies can sometimes appear in commercial datasheets. For instance, some catalogs round down the web thickness of this profile to 15.00 mm.
However, looking at the official engineering drawing for the 115RE Rail Model-which complies with the AREMA standard Section 11522-the actual design web thickness is 15.90 mm. Correctly identifying this dimensional detail is crucial for ensuring proper weld strength and clip tension.
The table below outlines the precise 115 lb/yd rail dimensions based on standard AREMA design parameters:
| Dimensional Parameter | Imperial Measurement | Metric Measurement (AREMA Standard) |
| Nominal Weight | 114.7 lbs/yd | 56.90 kg/m |
| Rail Height (A) | 6-5/8 inches | 168.30 mm (TR57 rail height) |
| Base Width (B) | 5-1/2 inches | 139.70 mm |
| Head Width (C) | 2-23/32 inches | 69.10 mm |
| Web Thickness (D) | 5/8 inches | 15.90 mm (Actual Design Web) |
| Standard Steel Grades | - | IS / SS /HH |
| Standard Section Number | - | Section 11522 |
Note: The 115 RE rail specifications listed above match the standard drawing tolerances. If your engineering team requires the complete CAD files or high-resolution vector drawings of the TR57 Profile to verify track clearance limits, you can share your technical requirements with our engineering team, and we will prepare the necessary design documents for your review.
What is the material of the 115RE (TR57) rail?
To serve as a reliable, heavy-duty rail, the steel chemistry must be formulated to resist rolling contact fatigue, shelling, and abrasive wear.
Under the AREMA specifications, the AREMA 115RE steel rail can be supplied in two primary chemical configurations depending on the mechanical requirements of the track: Carbon Steel Chemistry and Low Alloy Steel Chemistry.
The table below outlines the precise chemical composition limits (mass percentage) required by the modern AREMA standard for these two configurations:
| Chemical Composition of TR57 steel rail | ||||||||||
| AREMA 2019 | C% | Mn% | P% | S% | Si% | Ni% | Cr% | Mo% | V% | Al% |
| Carbon Steel | 0.74 - 0.86 | 0.75 - 1.25 | ≤ 0.020 | ≤ 0.020 | 0.10 - 0.60 | ≤ 0.25 | ≤ 0.30 | ≤ 0.060 | ≤ 0.010 | ≤ 0.010 |
| Low Alloy Steel (for Std Strength) | 0.72 - 0.82 | 0.80 - 1.10 | ≤ 0.020 | ≤ 0.020 | 0.10 - 0.50 | ≤ 0.15 | 0.25 - 0.40 | ≤ 0.050 | ≤ 0.010 | ≤ 0.005 |
| Low Alloy Steel (for Int. & High Strength) | 0.72 - 0.82 | 0.70 - 1.25 | ≤ 0.020 | ≤ 0.020 | 0.10 - 1.00 | ≤ 0.15 | 0.40 - 0.70 | ≤ 0.050 | ≤ 0.010 | ≤ 0.005 |
*Note: Under specific sub-grades of Low Alloy Chemistry, standard limits may further restrict silicon to 0.50% and manganese to 1.10%.
Depending on the traffic density of your rail line, you may choose between Standard Strength (SS) or Head Hardened (HH) variants of the AREMA 115RE rail steel. Standard carbon steel HH rails typically achieve a Brinell hardness of ≥370 HBW through specialized inline thermal treatment on the rail head, while maintaining the ductile core of the rail base.
Chemical tolerances must be strictly controlled to prevent brittleness in colder environments or premature wear under high axle loads. If your project has strict environmental or load-bearing requirements, you can request our standard product analysis reports or raw material inspection sheets to verify chemical compliance for your specific region.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: What does 115lb rail mean?
A 115 lb rail (also known as a 115RE or TR57 rail) is a type of heavy-duty steel railway track where a single yard of the rail weighs 115 pounds (roughly 56.9 kg per meter). Standardized by AREMA, this rail size is designed to balance strength and durability.
Q2: What is the weight difference between 115RE and TR57 steel rail?
There is no physical weight difference. The TR57 steel rail is the European design naming convention for the exact same cross-section profile as the American standard 115RE. Both have a nominal mass of 56.9 kg/m .
Q3: How much does a single 39-foot length of 115RE rail weigh?
A standard 39-foot segment of 115lb rail weighs approximately 1,491.1 pounds (676.3 kg).
Get a Quote in 24 Hours
Specifying and procuring railway steel is a process that relies heavily on strict compliance with national design standards. As an established 115RE rail manufacturer of American standard rails and compatible track accessories, GNEE RAIL focuses on providing fully certified rail systems to transit networks, industrial logistics parks, and mining operations worldwide.
We perform comprehensive physical and non-destructive testing on all our AREMA rails-including ultrasonic flaw detection, macro-etching, and dimensional verification-to ensure every shipment meets standard specifications.
Whether you are ready to buy 115 RE rail, require the current 115RE rail price per ton for an upcoming bidding process, or need to verify the 115 RE rail dimensions against your custom sleeper designs, our team is ready to assist. Please send your detailed bill of quantities (BOQ) or design layouts to our technical desk, and we will provide an objective technical review along with a clear estimate for your project.
