1 Classification by rail type
The cross-sectional type of the rail can be determined by the rail type, which is generally characterized by the mass per meter (kg). The rail types currently produced mainly include 43kg/m, 50kg/m, 60kg/m (60N), 75kg/m (75N), etc., with 60kg/m (60N) being the most widely used. "N" is the first letter of the English word "NEW". The 60N and 75N rail types are new rail types adjusted on the basis of 60kg/m and 75kg/m to adapt to the wheel-rail relationship.
| 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 | |
In actual use, there is also an asymmetric cross-section rail used to make turnouts. The rail types are 50AT1, 60AT1, 60AT2, 60AT3, and 60TY1, where "50" represents the rail type connected to it, "AT" represents a short special cross-section rail, and "TY" represents a special cross-section wing rail. The last number represents different types of rails in the same series.
2 Classification by steel type
Carbon rail: It is a steel rail smelted and rolled from natural raw iron ore, mainly with carbon and manganese elements to improve the strength of the steel rail. The GB standard carbon rail is a high manganese medium carbon rail, such as U71Mn.
Alloy rail: Alloy rail is a steel rail smelted and rolled after adding appropriate amounts of alloying elements such as vanadium, titanium, chromium, and molybdenum to the raw iron ore. The strength and toughness of this type of rail are higher than those of carbon rails, such as U75V and U78CrV. At the same time, some steel types have special effects due to the addition of some alloying elements, such as U68CuCr corrosion-resistant rails.
Specific steel types are identified by steel grades.
3 Classification by delivery status
Hot-rolled rails: Regardless of the strength of the rails, all those delivered in hot-rolled state are called hot-rolled rails.
Heat-treated rails: Rails made by using the residual heat of rolling rails or heating the rails and then controlling cooling. According to the process conditions, it can be divided into online heat-treated rails (using the residual heat of rolling to heat-treat them without secondary heating) and offline heat-treated rails (reheating the rails after rolling and cooling). At present, only turnout plants are used to treat some types of rails for offline heat treatment, and steel plants are generally used for heat treatment of rail heads with bolt holes.
4 Classification by standard length
Currently, the fixed lengths of rails are 12.5m, 25m, 50m, 75m, 100m, etc.
5 Classification according to different processing methods when connecting lines
Welded rails (no drilling) and end-drilled rails.
As a professional supplier in the field of international steel trade, GNEE RAIL has long been committed to the global sales and service of GB standard rails. We can provide customers with a full range of railway rail products, from ordinary line rails to high-strength wear-resistant rails, with complete product specifications to meet the needs of railway construction of different levels.