What are the parts of a railway track called?

Jan 09, 2026 Leave a message

What are the parts of a railway track called?

 

A railway track consists of main components: Rails (the steel bars), Sleepers/Ties (wood, concrete, or steel supports), Fasteners (clips, spikes, bolts securing rails to sleepers), Ballast (crushed stone for drainage/stability), and the Subgrade/Formation (the earth base). Other parts include Fishplates (joining rails), Switches/Turnouts (for changing tracks), and sometimes Pads (underneath rails for cushioning).

 

rail fastening

 

What is the function of rail fastening?

 

Rail fastening securely connects steel rails to sleepers, maintaining correct track gauge and preventing vertical, horizontal, and rotational movement, while also absorbing vibrations and distributing train loads for safety, stability, and a smoother ride. These systems use components like clips, spikes, and plates to withstand dynamic forces, control rail creep, and ensure proper alignment, which is critical for preventing derailments.

 

rail fasteners

 

Rail Fasteners from GNEE RAIL

 

GNEE RAIL offers different kinds of railway fasteners to meet client's requirements, such as Elastic Rail Clip and Clamp, Rail Screw Spike, Plastic Dowel, High Tensile Track Bolt with Nut, Rail Base(Tie) Plate, Rail Fish Plate, Railway Shoulder(Insert), Fish Bolt, Railroad Rubber and EVA Pad, etc. Samples and drawings provided by customer, we will manufacture qualified products accordingly.

 

Rail Joints

 

Rail joints, also named splice bar, fishplates or rail joint bar, is a metal bar that is welded into two rails in order to join them together. It is the most useful product and used in the construction of railway tracks for their sturdiness.

 

GNEE RAIL can provide various rail joints of high quality according to the requirements of our clients, and our rail joints are up to international standards, such as BS, UIC, GB, AREMA and DIN, etc. in addition, they can be customized in accordance with your specific requirements. Our technical team masters main standards of different countries due to rich experience of the design and production of customized all kinds of Chinese and foreign rail joints, and we can also make necessary adjustments and modifications.

 

rail joint

 

Standard(according to countries) Size
GB standard (China) 43KG, 50KG, 60KG, 75KG
AREMA standard (USA) 115RE, 119RE, 132/136RE, 141RE, 100-8, 122CB
AS standard (Australia) 31KG, 41/47KG, 50KG, 53KG, 60KG,
68KG, NIJ-721, NIJ-722, 60AS, 85AS
BS standard (UK) BS75R, BS80A, BS90A, BS100A, BS113A
UIC (International Union of Railways) standard UIC54, UIC60
Brazilian standard (Brazil) TJ57, TJ ASCE 90, TJ UIC60
Peruvian standard (Peru) 75LBS A.S.C.E, 75 LBS BSS, 80 LBS A.S.C.E, TJ BS80A
African standard (Africa) 85LB, 85LB-80LB

 

Rail Clip

 

Rail clip, also called elastic rail clip, it is used to fasten the rail tracks with railroad spike, rail pad, track bolt, rail joint bar together. It is also usually used as a part of rail fastening system. There are huge demand of rail clips on the railway line, about 7000pcs per kilometer, which is directly related to rail safety.

 

rail fastening

 

GNEE RAIL as the largest rail clip and clamp production base in China, which has been qualified to tender medium and large scaled railway projects. In addition, GNEE RAIL is approved elastic rail clip manufacturer by China's Railway Ministry and has been ISO9001-2008 certified. Our rail clip product is ideal for rail track assembly for advantages of easy fitment while track laying; economical maintenance; long durability and lifespan; fast replacement.

 

rail clip

 

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

 

Rail Pad


A rail pad, also called rail rubber plate, is designed between the rail tie plate and foot of the rail, made by an elastic polyurethane mat, which is interposed between steel rails and tie sleepers to protect the sleeper top from wearing and impacting. Its defined stiffness is used to increase the elasticity of the superstructure of the ballast and reduce shock and vibration in the rail system.

 

rail clamp

 

A range of high-performance elastic rail pads have been developed for stiffness requirements and various application areas-from trams through standard gauge railways to heavy haul lines, this especially suitable for E-type rail fastening systems and SKL-type rail fastening system with material of HDPE/EVA/Rubber, the following parameters for reference.

 

HDPE

No. Technical Parameter Unit Technical Requirement Value
1 Density g/cm3 0.95-0.98 0.95
2 Tensile Strength Mpa ≥19 19
3 Elongation % >80 150
4 Melting Point 170-190 190
5 Insulation Resistance Ω ≥1×1010 3.5 ×1010
6 Hardness A ≥98 98(A)

 

EVA: Polyethylene 80%, Vinyl Acetate 20%

No. Technical Parameter Unit Technical Requirement Value
1 Density g/cm3 0.95-0.98 0.95
2 Tensile Strength Mpa ≥15 16
3 Elongation % >500 550
4 Melting Point 170-190 170
5 Insulation Resistance Ω ≥1×1010 5.0 ×1010
6 Hardness A ≥90 92(A)

 

Rubber

No. Technical Parameter Unit Value
1 Stiffness KN 90-130
2 Hardness Shore A 72-80degree
3 Electronic Resistance Ω ≥ 106
4 Tensile Strength before Aging Mpa ≥12.5
5 Elongation before Aging % ≥250

 

GNEE RAIL offers different kinds of railway fasteners to meet client's requirements, such as Elastic Rail Clip and Clamp, Rail Screw Spike, Plastic Dowel, High Tensile Track Bolt with Nut, Rail Base(Tie) Plate, Rail Fish Plate, Railway Shoulder(Insert), Fish Bolt, Railroad Rubber and EVA Pad, etc. Samples and drawings provided by customer, we will manufacture qualified products accordingly.

 

Click here to obtain the detailed product catalog of GNEE RAIL.