A rail pad, also named rail rubber plate, is usually used between tie plates and sleepers or between rails and tie plate. The rail pad is made of elastic polyurethane mat and usually used on concrete sleepers. The rail pad can protect the concrete sleeper from abrasion and impaction, and it can also decrease the vibration from the passing train. It is believed that rail pad functions in two ways: diminish shock and distribute load. The thickness of our rail pads ranges from 5mm to 25mm,but usually the height should not to be so high in case the movement relative to the rails.
How does a rail pad function to reduce vibration?
Rail pads reduce vibration by acting as an elastic cushion between the rail and sleeper, absorbing and damping vibrational energy from passing trains, converting it to heat, and preventing it from traveling into the track structure, thereby reducing noise, protecting components, and improving passenger comfort. They use materials like rubber or polymers to achieve this shock absorption and energy dissipation, enhancing the longevity of the track.
How rail rubber pad Work?
- Cushioning & Shock Absorption: Placed between the baseplate and sleeper (or directly under the rail), they provide a soft layer that absorbs initial impacts from wheels.
- Energy Dissipation: The elastic materials (rubber, polyurethane) convert the kinetic energy of vibrations into heat, effectively damping the oscillations.
- Vibration Isolation: By interrupting the direct path, they prevent vibrations from resonating through the concrete sleepers and ballast, reducing structural stress and noise.
- Load Distribution: They spread the concentrated load from wheels over a larger surface area, reducing localized stress on the sleeper.
GNEE RAIL provides exceptional elastic rail pads of various types for high-speed railways, normal-speed railways, and cranes. Especially the rail pads made of rubber, EVA, TPEE, and HDPE are very popular with customers. Our railway rubber pads fit the rails such as UIC54, UIC60, BS80lbs, BS100lbs, etc. We have more than 130set of machines in our production lines which can reach an annual production capacity of up to 2000, 000 pieces of rail pads. We offer a wide range of rail pads and other track materials at competitive prices.
| Raw Material | Rubber, EVA, TPEE, HDPE |
| Standard | UIC, AREMA, TB/T2626-95 |
| Application | 43kg/m, 50kg/m, 60kg/m, 75kg/m,115RE, UIC54, UIC60, S49 |
| Model number | 43-7-7, 43-10-7, 50-7-9, 50-10-9, 60-10-17, 60-12-17 |
| Operating temperature | -50~70 degrees |
| Certificate | MSDS, ROHS, REACH |
| Notes | They should be stored in a clean, ventilated place. Don't be in direct sunlight, and keep away from the heat source and chemical reagent. Don't touch the oil, organic solvent, and other chemicals. Banned exposure. |
How thick is a rail pad?
Rail pads vary in thickness, generally from about 4.5 mm to 60 mm, depending on the application, with common ranges being 5-25 mm for standard use and thicker pads (up to 60 mm) for more vibration damping, with thinner pads (4.5-10 mm) common for city/metro lines or specialized use. The thickness impacts vibration absorption, load distribution, noise reduction, and clearance, with thicker pads offering more cushioning but potentially raising track height.
Our EVA/HDPE/rubber rail pads are with high elasticity, applying to types for rails such as rail UIC54, UIC60, BS80lbs,BS100lbs, and sizes as ordered. The pads can be customized with or without grooves, in various possible designs, depending on customers' requirements.