Rail track, also called railroad rail, railroad track, steel rail and so on, is widely used in the railway track system. Together with the cooperation with the railroad switch, it can make trains running without turning to the other directions. In general, rail track is consist of two parallel steel tracks and lays steadily on the railway sleepers.
What materials are used to manufacture steel rails?
Steel rails are made from high-quality, medium-to-high carbon steel, primarily alloyed with Manganese (Mn) and sometimes other elements like Chromium (Cr), Vanadium (V), or Titanium (Ti), to achieve exceptional hardness, wear resistance, and strength, starting from raw iron ore, coal, and limestone, then refined and rolled into the rail shape, followed by heat treatment for improved properties.
Carbon Steel: Most common, relying on carbon and manganese.
Alloy Steel: Contains added elements like Cr, V, Ti for superior performance.
Heat-Treated Steel: Hot-rolled or alloy steel that undergoes controlled heating and cooling for enhanced properties, especially in the rail head.
| 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 |
Why Steel Is Used For Rail?
Steel is the most widely used material for the construction of railway tracks and for good reason. There are several important factors that make steel the ideal material for this purpose, including its strength, durability, and versatility.
First and foremost, steel is incredibly strong and durable. Railway tracks are subjected to a tremendous amount of stress and pressure, as they must support the weight of heavy trains and withstand the impact of constant use. Steel is able to withstand this stress and pressure better than any other material, making it the ideal choice for rail construction.
In addition to its strength, steel is also highly durable. Unlike other materials that may be susceptible to corrosion, wear, and tear, or other forms of damage, steel is able to withstand a wide range of environmental factors and maintain its structural integrity over time. This means that steel rail can last for decades with minimal maintenance or repairs, making it a highly cost-effective choice for railway operators.
Another key advantage of steel rail is its versatility. Steel can be manufactured in a wide range of sizes and shapes to suit the specific needs of different rail systems. Whether you need straight rails, curved rails, switches, crossings, or other specialized components, steel can be customized to meet your requirements.
Beyond these functional advantages, steel rail also offers several other benefits that make it a popular choice for rail operators. For example, steel rail is highly efficient, as it provides a smooth surface for trains to travel on. This reduces friction and wear on the train's wheels, allowing them to operate more efficiently and with less energy. This translates into lower operating costs for railway operators, as they are able to transport goods and passengers more efficiently and at a lower cost.
Types of Track Steel Rail
According to different ways like weight, standard, tensile strength, steel rail can be divided into several types. Take national standard as an example, we can classify Steel rail into the following types.
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Chinese standard 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 | |
- American standard steel rail
American standard steel rail is mainly referred to ASCE series rail.
- Britain standard
Generally, material of Britain standard steel rail is 700/900A. GNEE RAIL is a BS steel rail manufacturers from China, we can supply top BS11-1985 standard steel rail like 50O, 60A, 60R, and etc.
| Size | A | B | C | t | Weight (kg/m) |
| 50O | 52.39 | 100.01 | 100.01 | 10.32 | 24.833 |
| 60A | 57.15 | 114.3 | 109.54 | 11.11 | 30.618 |
| 60R | 57.15 | 114.3 | 109.54 | 11.11 | 29.822 |
| 70A | 60.32 | 123.82 | 111.12 | 12.3 | 34.807 |
| 75A | 61.91 | 128.59 | 114.3 | 12.7 | 37.455 |
| 75R | 61.91 | 128.59 | 122.24 | 13.1 | 37.041 |
| 80A | 63.5 | 133.35 | 117.47 | 13.1 | 39.761 |
| 80R | 63.5 | 133.35 | 127 | 13.49 | 39.674 |
| 90A | 66.67 | 142.88 | 127 | 13.98 | 45.099 |
| 100A | 69.85 | 152.4 | 133.35 | 15.08 | 50.182 |
| 113A | 69.85 | 158.75 | 139.7 | 20 | 56.398 |
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Japanese industrial standard steel rail
Japanese industrial standard rail include 15 kg, 22kg, 30A, and etc. the material of JIS steel rail according to JIS e standard.
| Size | A | B | C | t | Weight (kg/m) |
| JIS 15kg | 42.86 | 79.37 | 79.37 | 8.33 | 15.2 |
| JIS 22kg | 50.8 | 93.66 | 93.66 | 10.72 | 22.3 |
| JIS 30A | 60.33 | 107.95 | 107.95 | 12.3 | 30.1 |
| JIS 37A | 62.71 | 122.24 | 122.24 | 13.49 | 37.2 |
| JIS 50N | 65 | 153 | 127 | 15 | 50.4 |
| CR 73 | 100 | 135 | 140 | 32 | 73.3 |
| CR 100 | 120 | 150 | 155 | 39 | 100.2 |
- South African standard steel rail
South African standard steel rail material adopts 700/900A.
| Size | A | B | C | t | Weight (kg/m) |
| 15kg | 41.28 | 76.2 | 76.2 | 7.54 | 14.905 |
| 22kg | 50.01 | 95.25 | 95.25 | 9.92 | 22.542 |
| 30kg | 57.15 | 109.54 | 109.54 | 11.5 | 30.25 |
| 40kg | 63.5 | 127 | 127 | 14 | 40.31 |
| 48kg | 68 | 150 | 127 | 14 | 47.6 |
| 57kg | 71.2 | 165 | 140 | 16 | 57.4 |
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UIC standard steel rail
The common sizes of UIC860-O standard steel rail are UIC54 and UIC60 rail. Material of UIC series rail is 900A/1100.
| Size | A | B | C | t | Weight (kg/m) |
| UIC54 | 70 | 159 | 140 | 16 | 54.43 |
| UIC60 | 74.3 | 172 | 150 | 16.5 | 60.21 |
Besides these types of steel rail mentioned above, GNEE RAIL can supply many other international standards steel rail like AS, ISCR, DIN and etc. we can custom different standards according to clients' needs.
