A steel rail is a precisely engineered track component that supports the weight of rolling vehicles, resists deformation, and provides continuous guidance along railways or industrial lines. Its hardness, toughness, and geometric accuracy determine long-term operational performance. GNEE RAIL provides rails under all recognized international standards, including GB light and heavy rails, UIC50–UIC60, DIN536 A55–A120, QU70–QU120, JIS CR73/CR100, AS1085 31–89 kg, BS11:1985, and AREMA/ASCE 25–175 lb, along with fabrication, pre-assembly, and project-specific support.
What are the types of rail sections?
Rail sections, or rail profiles, are designed to support loads, guide wheels, and maintain track stability. They are classified based on application, geometry, and load requirements, and are generally grouped into the following main types of rail sections:
1. Light Railway Rail Sections:
These are used for industrial lines, mining railways, tramways, or low-traffic passenger lines. They have smaller profiles to reduce material costs and allow easier handling. Typical weights range from 8–30 kg/m, with head widths around 40–60 mm and heights around 70–110 mm. Examples include JIS 15KG, 22KG, and AS 31KG rails.
| 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 | |
JIS E 1103/1101 Standard Steel Rail
| Standard: JIS E 1103/1101 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Size | Dimension(mm) | Weight (kg/m) |
Length(m) | |||
| Head | Height | Bottom | Thickness | |||
| JIS 15KG | 42.86 | 79.37 | 79.37 | 8.33 | 15.2 | 9-10 |
| JIS 22KG | 50.8 | 93.66 | 93.66 | 10.72 | 22.3 | 9-10 |
| JIS 30A | 60.33 | 107.95 | 107.95 | 12.3 | 30.1 | 9-10 |
| JIS 37A | 62.71 | 122.24 | 122.24 | 13.49 | 37.2 | 10-25 |
| JIS 50N | 65 | 153 | 127 | 15 | 50.4 | 10-25 |
| CR 73 | 100 | 135 | 140 | 32 | 73.3 | 10-12 |
| CR 100 | 120 | 150 | 155 | 39 | 100.2 | 10-12 |
Australian 1085 Standard Steel Rail
| Standard: AS 1085 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Size | Dimension(mm) | Weight (kg/m) |
Length(m) | |||
| Head | Height | Bottom | Thickness | |||
| 31KG | 63.5 | 117.5 | 108 | 11.5 | 31.5 | 8-25 |
| 47KG | 70 | 141.3 | 127 | 14.3 | 46.5 | |
| 50KG | 70 | 154 | 127 | 15 | 50.8 | |
| 60KG | 70 | 170 | 146 | 16.5 | 61 | |
| 68KG | 73.4 | 186 | 152 | 17.5 | 67.6 | |
| 73KG | 70 | 157 | 146 | 32 | 73.63 | |
| 86KG | 102 | 102 | 165 | 84.11 | 85.5 | |
| 89KG | 102 | 114 | 178 | 51 | 89.81 | |
2. Heavy Railway Rail Sections:
Designed for mainline passenger and freight operations, these rails carry high axle loads and higher speeds. They are taller with a wider base for stability. Weights usually range from 38–60 kg/m, with head widths 63–73 mm, heights 117–170 mm, and base widths 108–152 mm. Standard examples include UIC50, UIC54, UIC60, BS 60kg, 75lb, and JIS 50N rails.
| 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 | |
| Standard: UIC860 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Size | Dimension(mm) | Weight (kg/m) |
Length(m) | |||
| Head | Height | Bottom | Thickness | |||
| UIC50 | 70 | 152 | 125 | 15 | 50.46 | 12-25 |
| UIC54 | 70 | 159 | 140 | 16 | 54.43 | |
| UIC60 | 74.3 | 172 | 150 | 16.5 | 60.21 | |
3. Crane or Industrial Rail Sections:
Used in ports, steel mills, warehouses, and gantry crane systems, these rails are designed to handle very high concentrated vertical loads and lateral forces. Profiles are heavier with thick heads and webs. Common types include:
- DIN 536 A-series (A55, A65, A75, A100, A120)
| Standard：DIN 536 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Size | Dimension(mm) | Weight (kg/m) |
Length(m) | |||
| Head | Height | Bottom | Thickness | |||
| A55 | 55 | 65 | 150 | 31 | 31.8 | 10-12 |
| A55 | 65 | 75 | 175 | 38 | 43.1 | |
| A75 | 75 | 85 | 200 | 45 | 56.2 | |
| A100 | 100 | 95 | 200 | 60 | 74.3 | |
| A120 | 120 | 105 | 200 | 72 | 100 | |
- QU crane rails (QU70, QU80, QU100, QU120)
| Classification | Height(mm) | Head (mm) | Bottom (mm) | Thick(mm) | Weight (kg/m) | |
| Crane 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 | |
They are typically made from high-strength pearlitic steels, sometimes head-hardened for maximum wear resistance.
4. Special-Purpose or Embedded Rail Sections:
These include grooved rails for trams and urban light rail, and flat bar rails for embedded industrial applications. Grooved rails allow the wheel flange to pass inside a channel, enabling installation in concrete or pavement, while flat bar rails are used where standard rail profiles cannot fit.
5. By Structural Feature:
Rails can also be categorized by cross-sectional design:
- Double-Headed Rail: Symmetrical with identical head and foot, originally designed to be flipped when worn; now rarely used due to maintenance issues.
- Bull-Headed Rail: Features a thicker head for strength, often used in points and crossings (switches); it requires base plates for support, unlike flat-footed rails.
- Flat-Footed (Vignoles) Rail: Most common today, featuring a wide, flat bottom for direct attachment to sleepers (ties), making installation simpler and more economical.
As a professional rail fastener supplier, GNEE RAIL can provide different standard steel rail such as GB,American, BS, UIC, DIN, JIS, Australian and South Africa which used in railway lines, cranes and coal mining.