A rail fish plate is a steel joint element designed to transmit bending moments and shear forces across rail ends while preserving correct gauge and elevation at the joint location. It is a key component in jointed track geometry control. GNEE RAIL offers fish plates matched to GB standards, UIC50/54/60, DIN536 A55–A120, QU70–QU120 crane rails, JIS rails, AS1085 rail types, BS11 profiles, and AREMA/ASCE rails, along with installation parameter support.
| 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 |
What materials are used in insulation joints?
Rail insulation joints use a combination of high-strength steel, insulating polymers, and specialized adhesives to electrically isolate track sections. Key materials include fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) or fiberglass for plates, polyurethane or nylon for insulation, high-strength epoxy resin for gluing, and hardened steel for joint bars.
Key Materials and Components:
- Insulating Material (End Posts, Channels, Bushings): Fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP), epoxy resin, nylon, polyurethane, or other durable polymers are used to prevent electrical contact between rail ends and bolts.
- Fishplates/Joint Bars: Often made of hardened steel for strength, or sometimes molded from high-performance reinforced composites.
- Adhesives: High-polymer epoxy resin is used in glued insulated joints (GIRJs) to bond components, providing high mechanical strength.
- Fasteners: High-tensile steel bolts are used to secure the assembly.
- Reinforcement: Alkali-free glass fiber is used to reinforce the epoxy in the fishplates.
Types of Joints:
- Glued Insulated Joints (GIRJ): Considered superior for high-speed/heavy-haul lines, using epoxy to glue insulated fishplates to the rail.
- Nylon Insulated Joints: Utilize nylon 66 components for insulation, generally for lower-speed, less-demanding sections.
These materials ensure the joint can withstand high mechanical forces, vibration, and environmental factors while maintaining electrical insulation for track circuits.
What is the service life of a rail joint?
The service life of a rail joint (fish-plated/bolted) is generally 5–10 years under normal to heavy traffic, significantly less than the 20–30+ years for continuously welded rails. Their lifespan is heavily dependent on maintenance, traffic volume, and axle loads, with high-speed or heavy-haul lines causing rapid degradation.
Key Details on Rail Joint Lifespan:
- Bolted/Fish-plated Joints: Typically last 5–10 years before requiring replacement due to bolt hole cracking, plate fractures, or rail end batter.
- Insulated Rail Joints (IRJs): These have a much shorter service life, often needing replacement every 8–15 years, or in heavy traffic, as little as 12–18 months.
Factors Affecting Life:
- Maintenance: Regular cleaning, lubrication, and bolt tightening can extend life.
- Traffic Load: Heavy-haul freight (25+ tonne axle loads) causes rapid failure.
- Speed: High-speed, high-load routes often use welded tracks because joint impacts are too severe.
- Extension: Rail grinding and specialized repair systems for insulating joints can add several years to the life of the track components.
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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