A rail fish plate is a structural joint bar that prevents excessive movement and deformation at rail ends by re-establishing effective sectional strength at the joint zone. It is widely used where welding is not feasible. GNEE RAIL supplies fish plates for GB, UIC, DIN536, QU, JIS, AS1085, BS11, and AREMA/ASCE rail standards, and offers joint system configuration assistance for different track conditions.
What Are Fish Plates Used for in Modern Railways?
Fish plates, also known as splice bars, joint bars, or rail joints, are critical metal fasteners bolted to the sides of rail ends to connect them, ensuring structural integrity, proper spacing, and vertical/horizontal alignment. They transfer wheel loads between rails, prevent deflection, and are essential in modern, high-load railway signaling for insulating tracks.
Key Usage Examples and Functions in Modern Railways:
- Track Continuity: They secure the connection between two rail ends, maintaining a smooth, continuous surface.
- Load Distribution: They transfer vertical, lateral, and longitudinal loads from one rail to the next, preventing deflection.
- Signaling Insulation: Specialized insulated fish plates are crucial in modern,, U.S. train networks for separating electrical circuits for, signaling and, {Link: Positive Train Control (PTC)}.
- Track Maintenance & Adjustments: They allow for easier maintenance in areas requiring frequent track adjustments, such as in, desert zones to accommodate expansion.
- Switch Components: Used in, railway switches to connect moving switch blades to closure rails.
Specification of Rail joint
Rail joint sizes (fishplates) are determined by the rail weight and type, with common lengths being 24 inches (4-hole) or 36 inches (6-hole) for standard rail sections. They range from light rail (8kg–30kg) to heavy rail (38kg–60kg) and specialized crane rails (QU70–QU120), typically matched to the rail section, such as AREMA 115RE, 132RE, or UIC60.
| Type | Size |
|---|---|
| GB standard | 43KG, 50KG, 60KG, 75KG |
| AREMA standard | 115RE, 119RE, 132/136RE, 141RE, 100-8, 122CB |
| BS standard | BS75R, BS80A, BS90A, BS100A, BS113A |
| UIC standard | UIC54, UIC60 |
| DIN standard | FI30, FI33, FI41, FI49 |
| AS standard | 31KG, 41/47KG, 50KG, 53KG, 60KG, 68KG, NIJ-721, NIJ-722, 60AS, 85AS |
| Brazilian standard | TJ57, TJ ASCE 90, TJ UIC60 |
| Peruvian standard | 75LBS A.S.C.E, 75 LBS BSS, 80 LBS A.S.C.E, TJ BS80A |
| 1 UIC54 Rail Joints | ||
| Item | UIC54 Rail Joint 6 Holes | UIC54 Rail Joint 4 Holes |
| Specification | 920mm long, 6holes | 630mm long, 4holes |
| Unit Weight | 22.9kg/pc | 15.6kg/pc |
| Standard | UIC | |
| Material | 55# | |
| Packing | Bundled by steel strips with iron/wood pallets | |
| Surface | Plain/Black Oil | |
| 2 UIC60 Rail Joints | ||
| Item | UIC60 Rail Joint 6 Holes | UIC60 Rail Joint 4 Holes |
| Specification | 6 holes | 4 holes |
| Unit Weight | 17.5kg/pc | |
| Standard | UIC | |
| Material | 55# | |
| Packing | Bundled by steel strips with iron/wood pallets | |
| Surface | Plain/Black Oil | |
| 3 115RE Rail Joints | ||
| Model | 115RE Rail joint 6 Holes | 115RE Rail joint 4 Holes |
| Specification | 36" Long, 6 Holes, size 3-1/2" x 6" x 6", TO ACCOMMODATE A 1" BOLTS | 24" Long, 4 Holes, TO ACCOMMODATE A 1" BOLTS |
| Unit Weight | 25.5kg/pc | 16.7kg/pc |
| Standard | AREMA | |
| Material | 50#/55# | |
| Packing | Bundled by steel strips with iron/wood pallets | |
| Surface | Plain/Black Oil | |
Founded in 2008, GNEE RAIL 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.