Key Factors Affecting Railway Track Load-Bearing Capacity

Aug 27, 2025 Leave a message

The steel rail is used to guide the train wheels for rolling and running, it can withstand the enormous stress that the passing trains passed by and transfer to the sleepers and ballast. Steel rail is the main component of railway. It can be classified into heavy rail,light rail and crane rail.

 

GNEE RAIL can provide various types of railway rails, including heavy rails (38kg, 43kg, 35kg, 50kg, 60kg, 75kg), light rails (8kg, 9kg, 12kg, 15kg, 18kg, 22kg, 24kg, 30kg), and crane rails (QU70, QU80, QU100, QU120).

 

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

 

Classification Height(mm) Head (mm) Bottom (mm) Thick(mm) Weight (kg/m)
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

 

Rail Type SIZE(mm) theoretical weight
height bottom width head width waist depth
Crane rail QU70 120 120 70 28 52.8
QU80 130 130 80 32 63.69
QU100 150 150 100 38 88.96
QU120 170 170 120 44 118.1

 

Key Factors Affecting Railway Track Load-Bearing Capacity

 

Sleepers (Ties): Horizontal beams that support rails and spread loads. Concrete sleepers are stronger than wooden ones and handle heavier loads.

 

Ballast: Crushed stone or gravel under sleepers. It provides stability, drainage, and helps distribute train loads. Well-maintained ballast improves capacity.

 

heavy rail

 

Subgrade: The compacted soil or foundation beneath the track. Its strength depends on soil quality, compaction, and drainage, directly affecting load support.

 

Axle Load: The maximum weight a single axle can carry. Tracks are designed for specific axle load limits to ensure safe weight distribution.

 

We also manufacture kinds of Railway Screw Spike, Clip and Clamp, High Tensile Bolt with Nut and Washer, Rail Base(Tie) Plate, Rail Fish Plate, Rail Shoulder, Rail Screw and Spike, Fish Bolt with Nut and Washer, Rail Dowel, Rubber and EVA Pad, and Other rail fasteners parts.

 

rail fasteners