Railway fish plate, it is also called rail joint or joint bar. As one of the rail components, rail joint's function is different from other rail components. Rail joint is a flat metal plate usually used to connect adjacent two rails by a number of rail bolts or railroad spikes.
Fishplates do not inherently "require" the use of rail spikes, but in practical railway track structures, fishplates and spikes often work in tandem to ensure rail stability and safety. The primary function of fishplates is to connect two rail sections by clamping them firmly on both sides with fish bolts, achieving tight joint integration and load transfer. On the other hand, rail spikes are mainly used to securely fasten rails to wooden sleepers, preventing longitudinal and lateral displacement of the rails.
In traditional track systems with wooden sleepers, spikes are critical fasteners that anchor the rail base to maintain stability between the sleeper and rail, preventing sleeper movement or rail misalignment. Meanwhile, fishplates connect rail ends via bolts to ensure proper joint alignment and strength. In modern sleeper systems using concrete or other materials, spikes are typically replaced by elastic clips or rail fasteners, but fishplates and fish bolts remain essential components for rail joint connections.
Thus, fishplates and rail spikes serve distinct yet complementary roles in track structures. Fishplates must be used with fish bolts to ensure joint stability, while the need for spikes depends on the sleeper type.
GNEE RAIL offers various fishplates and fish bolts, along with a comprehensive range of railway fasteners including screw spikes, dog spikes, rail clips (such as SKL, KPO, Nabla, Fast Clip, and E Clip), gauge rods, rail pads, rail braces, rail clamps, rail support seats, and insulated gauge blocks etc. These products cater to diverse track structure requirements, supporting construction and maintenance across multiple sleeper and track types. Contact GNEE for a free quotation.
