Rail pads are elastic polyurethane mats which are interposed between steel rails and railway sleepers to protect the sleeper top from wearing and impacting.
The starting stiffness of a rail pad is designed to not be high so that their relative deformation under the spring clip toe loads is greatly substantial. In this way, it can guarantees the rail pad maintaining in close contact with the rail despite of any vertical movements of the latter. In addition, the reason why rail pads made up of rubber or plastic is to dampen the shocks of vibration of a passing train.
What are the advantages of using a railway pad?
Railway pads offer significant advantages by absorbing shock, reducing noise and vibration, distributing wheel loads over a larger area, and protecting tracks from wear, ultimately extending the lifespan of rails and sleepers, lowering maintenance costs, and improving passenger comfort and track stability, especially in ballasted systems or tight curves.
Key Advantages of Railway Pad:
- Vibration & Shock Damping: They cushion impacts from passing trains, reducing vibrations and preventing hard surface contact, which minimizes material fatigue and fractures in sleepers.
- Noise Reduction: By dampening vibrations, pads significantly lower the noise and acoustic disturbances generated by trains, crucial for urban environments.
- Load Distribution: Pads spread the concentrated weight of the wheels over a broader surface, reducing stress on the track structure, especially on concrete sleepers.
- Prolonged Track Life: Reduced wear and tear on rails, fasteners, and sleepers leads to longer service life and less frequent, costly maintenance.
- Improved Comfort & Stability: A smoother, more consistent track surface provides better ride quality for passengers and enhances overall track stability.
- Ballast Protection: They protect the ballast (crushed stone) from dynamic forces, preventing premature degradation.
- Electrical Insulation: Some rail pads provide electrical insulation, important for signaling systems.
- Cost-Effectiveness: The extended life and reduced maintenance make them a cost-effective solution over time.
What materials are railway pads made of?
Railway pads are primarily made from elastic materials like rubber (natural, SBR, EPDM) or plastics (HDPE, EVA, Polyurethane), often blended with reinforcing agents or featuring composite structures (rubber-metal) to enhance shock absorption, vibration dampening, and wear resistance, protecting sleepers and improving comfort.
GNEE RAIL have developed a range of high-performance elastic rail pads for stiffness requirements and various application areas-from trams through standard gauge railways to heavy haul lines, especially those for E-type rail fastening systems and SKL type rail fastening systems with material of HDPE/EVA/Rubber, with following properties respectively.
| 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. |
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.