What are the components of rail track?

Dec 26, 2025 Leave a message

What are the components of rail track?

 

A rail track's main components form a structure for trains to roll on, including the steel Rails (guiding path), Sleepers/Ties (support & gauge), Fastenings (securing rails to sleepers like clips & spikes), Ballast (gravel bed for drainage/stability), and the underlying Formation/Subgrade (prepared earthworks). Together, these parts create a smooth, strong surface, distributing train loads safely down to the ground.


Key Components

 

 

  • Rails: The steel beams that form the running surface, guiding the wheels and withstanding immense pressure, providing a low-friction path.

 

heavy rail

 

As a professional rail fastener supplier, GNEE RAIL can provide different standard steel rail such as American, BS, UIC, DIN, JIS, Australian and South Africa which used in railway lines, cranes and coal mining.

 

Chinese Standard Steel Rail

 

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

 

Classification Height(mm) Head (mm) Bottom (mm) Thick(mm) Weight (kg/m)
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

 

Classification SIZE(mm) theoretical weight
height bottom width head width waist depth
Crane rail QU70 120 120 70 28 52.8
QU80 130 130 80 32 63.69
QU100 150 150 100 38 88.96
QU120 170 170 120 44 118.1

 

South African Standard Steel Rail

 

Standard: ISCOR
Size Dimension(mm) Weight
(kg/m)
Length(m)
Head Height Bottom Thickness
15 KG 41.28 76.2 76.2 7.54 14.905 9
22 KG 50.01 95.25 95.25 9.92 22.542 9
30 KG 57.15 95.25 109.54 11.5 30.25 9
40 KG 63.5 127 127 14 40.31 9-25
48 KG 68 150 127 14 47.6 9-25
57 KG 71.2 165 140 16 57.4 9-25

 

  • Sleepers (Ties): Placed perpendicular to the rails, these hold the rails at the correct distance (gauge) and transfer loads from the rails to the ballast. They can be wood, concrete, or steel.

 

  • Fastenings: Devices like clips, spikes, and bolts that secure the rails to the sleepers.

 

Rail Elastic Clip

 

GNEE RAIL supplies E rail clips, SKL rail clips, Nabla types rail clips, KPO rail clips, and other customized types of rail clips with competitive price and factory delivery, if you have any need, please feel free to contact us!

 

rail fastening

 

Model Diameter Weight Material
Type III Ø18 0.80kg/pc 60Si2MnA
E1609 Ø16 0.43 kg/pc 60Si2MnA
E1809 Ø20 0.61kg/pc 60Si2MnA
E1813 Ø18 0.62kg/pc 60Si2MnA
E2001 Ø20 0.80kg/pc 60Si2MnA
E2007 Ø20 0.80kg/pc 60Si2MnA
E2009 Ø20 0.80kg/pc 60Si2MnA
E2039 Ø20 0.80kg/pc 60Si2MnA
E2055 Ø20 0.80kg/pc 60Si2MnA
E2056 Ø20 0.80kg/pc 60Si2MnA
E2063 Ø20 0.80kg/pc 60Si2MnA
PR85 Rail Clip Ø13 0.25kg/pc 60Si2MnA
PR309A Ø19 0.85kg/pc 60Si2MnA
PR401 Ø20 0.97kg/pc 60Si2MnA
PR415 Ø20 0.95kg/pc 60Si2MnA
PR601A Ø20 1.03kg/pc 38Si7
SKL 1 Ø13 0.48kg/pc 60Si2CrA
SKL 3 Ø13 0.48kg/pc 60Si2CrA
SKL 12 Ø13 0.53kg/pc 38Si7
SKL 14 Ø13 0.53kg/pc 60Si2MnA
Special Rail Clip Ø13 0.48kg/pc 60Si2MnA
Russia Rail Clip Ø18 0.58kg/pc 60Si2MnA
Deenik Clip Ø25 0.49-0.68kg/pc 60Si2MnA
Single Anti- Ø20 0.25kg/pc 60Si2MnA
Theft

 

  • Ballast: A bed of crushed stone/gravel beneath the sleepers that provides drainage, stability, and shock absorption, transferring loads to the formation.

 

  • Formation (Subgrade): The natural or engineered earthwork (embankments, cuts) beneath the ballast that forms the foundation of the entire track structure.

 

At GNEE RAIL, we specialize in providing a full range of rail components, including heavy rail,light rail, crane rail and rail fastening, as well as matching high-performance rail clips and fastening solutions. Backed by strict quality control and industry certifications, our products are engineered to meet international standards and diverse project demands.

 

Whether you are building a new railway line or upgrading an existing network, we offer one-stop procurement services to simplify your sourcing process–ensuring timely delivery, competitive pricing, and professional technical support.

 

Contact us today to discover how we can power your railway success!