Steel rail is a type of steel bar that has a long, rectangular cross-section in the shape of an I or U. It is used to install railway tracks, and tracks for specialized vehicles such as cranes, trolleys, and locomotives, etc.
This type of steel has the ability to withstand force, impact, friction, and high pressure, and therefore has good durability and hardness. They are produced from iron ore, through the processes of metallurgy, hot rolling, cold rolling, and heat treatment, to create different types of steel according to different standards and specifications.
Rails play a critical role in railway transportation. Track rails are categorized into three types: heavy rails, light rails, and crane rails. As a professional railway rail supplier, GNEE supplies multiple specifications of railway rails:
| 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 | |
| Crance 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 | |
The distinction between heavy rails and light rails lies in their weight per unit length. Rails weighing over 24 kg per meter are designated heavy rails; those under 24 kg per meter are termed light rails. In cross-section, their profiles differ slightly: heavy rails feature larger sections capable of bearing greater forces. Heavy rails exhibit shorter heights with greater widths and thicker webs, while light rails demonstrate the opposite characteristics.
Unlike light rails, heavy rails accommodate heavy-duty vehicle operations-referring to the vehicle load capacity rather than the rail's own weight. This distinction is crucial: tracks for heavy vehicles require thicker (and consequently heavier) rails, demanding higher specifications. GNEE RAIL manufactures railway rails using premium steel grades including Q235B, 55Q, U75V, and U71Mn, delivering exceptional wear resistance, toughness, and impact performance. Our rails also provide superior corrosion resistance, ensuring operational safety across diverse environmental conditions.
