A rail fish plate is a mechanical continuity component that converts discrete rail lengths into functionally continuous track by restoring sectional strength at joints, allowing safe transmission of traffic loads and maintaining ride quality. GNEE RAILWAY RAILWAY offers fish plates for all major international rail standards including GB, UIC, DIN536, QU, JIS, AS1085, BS11, and AREMA/ASCE, with services covering dimensional inspection, material certification, and export compliance.
How Railroad Joint Bars Keep Rails Aligned and Secure?
Railroad joint bars (or fishplates) keep rails aligned and secure by acting as heavy-duty, bolted splice plates that connect rail ends, providing structural continuity. These steel plates, secured with bolts and often spring washers, bridge the gap between rails, ensuring vertical and horizontal stability, distributing load to reduce stress, and allowing for thermal expansion.
Key Functions of Joint Bars:
- Alignment and Stability: By clamping tightly to the web of both rail ends, joint bars maintain precise alignment, preventing vertical misalignment (vertical misalignment) and lateral displacement.
- Secure Connection: They are fastened with 4 to 6 bolts, ensuring the rails do not pull apart, which is vital for safety.
- Load Distribution: When train wheels pass over the gap, the joint bars distribute the weight evenly, minimizing stress on the rail ends and reducing battering.
- Thermal Expansion Management: While securing the rails, they allow for a small gap (expansion joint) that accommodates the expansion and contraction of the steel due to temperature changes, preventing track buckling.
Types of Joint Bars:
- Standard Joint Bar: Used for connecting rails of the same size and profile.
- Compromise/Transition Joint Bar: Specifically designed to connect rails of different sizes, profiles, or varying wear levels.
- Insulated Joint Bar: Used in signaled track sections to prevent electrical conductivity between rails.
| Joint Type | Key Specification / Description |
|---|---|
| Standard Rail Joint (Fish Plate) | - Profile: Matches the rail section (e.g., UIC 60, 136RE). - Length: Typically 600mm or 800mm per side. - Holes: 4 or 6 bolt holes per bar. |
| Insulated Rail Joint (IRJ) | - Material: Steel core with composite insulating end-posts/plates, or full epoxy composite. - Electrical Resistance: >10⁸ Ω. |
| Compromise Rail Joint | - Design: Connects two different rail profiles (e.g., UIC 54 to UIC 60). - Profile: Each side is machined to match its respective rail section. |
| Joggled Rail Joint | - Feature: Has a depressed (joggled) section to allow continuous rail head surface for smoother wheel passage. |
| Bridge Rail Joint | - Design: Often reinforced (thicker web/longer length) for high-stress locations like bridge approaches. |
| Glued Insulated Joint | - Construction: Steel bars bonded to composite insulation using high-strength adhesive for improved durability. |
| Welded Rail Joint (for CWR) | - Type: Flash-butt or thermite weld. - Specification: Weld must meet mechanical properties equal to or greater than the parent rail. |
| Expansion Joint (for BRE) | - Feature: Allows controlled thermal expansion in long rails on bridges or in extreme temperature zones. |
Rail Fish Plate Dimensions
Rail fish plates (joint bars) are steel fasteners designed to join rail ends, with dimensions varying by rail weight and standard (e.g., UIC60, 50kg, AREMA). Standard lengths range from 600mm to 1000mm, with hole diameters for bolts typically 22mm to 24mm. Common configurations include 4-hole or 6-hole plates, such as 305mm x 127mm x 38mm for 60R rails.
Hot Fish Plate from YONGYANG:
| Standard | Type | Length/Diameter | Weight /Material | |
| AREMA 2007 | 115RE | 4 hole-24" | 17.04Kg | 45# chemical |
| 115RE | 6 hole-36" | 25.56Kg | composition(%): | |
| 132-136RE | 4 hole-24" | 17.75Kg | C: 0.42-0.50 | |
| 132-136RE | 6 hole-36" | 26.63Kg | Mn: 0.50-0.80 | |
| UIC864 | UIC60 | 4 hole-630/Φ26 | 18.07Kg | Si: 0.17-0.37 |
| UIC60 | 4 hole-600/Φ28 | 17.47Kg | Cr: ≤0.25 | |
| UIC60 | 4 hole-630/Φ25 | 18.1Kg | P: ≤0.035 | |
| UIC54 | 4 hole | 14.34Kg | S: ≤0.035 | |
| UIC54 | 6 hole-800 | 19.94Kg | ||
| BS 47-1 | BS75R | 4 hole | 6.56Kg | |
| BS60A | 4 hole | 5.61Kg | ||
| BS80A | 4 hole | 6.5Kg | ||
| BS90A | 685.8/Φ26 | 13.23Kg | 50# chemical | |
| BS90A | 792.9/Φ26.2 | 15.34Kg | composition(%): | |
| BS100A | 4 hole | C: 0.62-0.70 | ||
| 90/91LB | 4 hole | 18.08Kg | Mn: 0.50-0.80 | |
| 90/91LB | 6 hole | 19.9Kg | Si: 0.17-0.37 | |
| AS | 50kg | 4 hole | 14.3Kg | Cr: ≤0.25 |
| 50kg | 6 hole | 19.5Kg | P: ≤0.035 | |
| S49 | 4 hole | 9.71Kg | S: ≤0.035 | |
Founded in 2008, GNEE RAILWAY RAILWAY is a leading global manufacturer and supplier of railway components, specializing in high-quality rail fish plates (joint bars/splice bars) with strong production capacity and global service capabilities.
Our rail fish plate portfolio is comprehensive and compliant with international standards including UIC, AREMA, BS, DIN, and GB, covering light rail (8kg-30kg), heavy rail (38kg-75kg), and crane rail (QU70-QU120) systems. We offer diverse types such as insulated joint bars, bulged fish plates, and compromise rail joints,with precise specifications (4-hole/6-hole, 24-inch/36-inch), ensuring excellent mechanical performance.We uphold strict quality control supported by ISO 9001:2015 certification, an in-house inspection center, and third-party audits by SGS and BV. Our one-stop service includes customization, production, packaging, and after-sales support, tailored to clients' project needs.