A rail fish plate is a mechanical joint reinforcement device designed to stabilize rail ends against vertical bending, lateral displacement, and longitudinal movement, ensuring that wheel loads are distributed over both rails instead of concentrating at a single end.
GNEE RAILWAY RAILWAY supplies fish plates for GB 8–60 kg/m, UIC50–UIC60, DIN536 A-series, QU crane rails, JIS models, AS1085 rails, BS11 profiles, and AREMA/ASCE standards, and supports customers with joint design selection and installation coordination.
What types of rail joint bars are there?
Rail joint bars, or fishplates, are essential railway fasteners used to connect rail ends, categorized primarily by their function: common (same rail size), compromise (different rail sizes), insulated (electrical isolation), and specialized types like joggled (repairs) or welded joints. They are classified by hole count (4 or 6) and, in the case of insulated joints, by material (composite/bonded).
Main Types of Rail Joint Bars:
- Common Rail Joint Bar (Standard): Used to join rails of the same size and standard. Usually features four or six bolt holes.
- Compromise Joint Bar: Connects two different types or sizes of rails together. These are specially forged or machined to fit uneven rail sections, often with different-sized holes to match the respective rails.
- Insulated Rail Joint (IRJ): Used in electrified railways or for signaling, these bars provide electrical isolation between two rail sections. They are often made from high-strength insulating composite materials.
- Glued Insulated Rail Joint: A specialized, high-strength insulated joint that is glued to the rail for better stability, designed for long-term use.
- Joggled/Bulge Rail Joint: Features a special shape (a "joggle" or "bulge" in the center) used for repairing broken welded rails, often with an emergency clamp.
- Welded Joint: A type of joint that uses welding to fix the joint bar, which is more complex to install but provides a very stable connection.
What do insulated rail joiners do?
Insulated rail joints (IRJs) electrically isolate adjacent rail sections to create distinct, self-contained track circuits essential for signaling, train detection, and controlling automatic block systems. By inserting insulating materials (like composites) between rail ends, they prevent short circuits, while still joining rails mechanically.
Key functions and characteristics include:
- Signaling & Safety: They break the electrical continuity of the track, allowing signal engineers to divide the track into blocks to monitor train positions.
- Electrical Insulation: They prevent electrical current from flowing between rail sections.
- Mechanical Integrity: They act as joints for continuous welded rails (CWR), requiring high structural strength to handle longitudinal forces.
- Durability: Insulated rail joints are designed to resist rust, corrosion, and UV radiation, ensuring long-term reliability in various climates.
Insulated rail joint specification
Insulated rail joints (IRJs) are critical track components designed to electrically isolate track circuits, requiring high tensile strength >2500 kN), axle load capacity (up to 320 kN), and electrical resistance, often exceeding 30MΩ. They must be installed in temperatures above 12℃and comply with standards like EN16843 for composite or UIC54/UIC60 for steel, ensuring a 1-meter gap from welds on high-speed lines.
Common Standards
- AREMA: 115RE, 132RE, 100-8RE.
- UIC: UIC54, UIC60.
- GB: 43kg, 50kg, 60kg, 75kg.
- BS: BS75R, BS80A, BS90A, BS100A, BS113A.
| Standard | Type | Length/Diameter | Weight /Material | |
| AREMA 2007 | 115RE | 4 hole-24" | 17.04Kg | 45# chemical |
| 115RE | 6 hole-36" | 25.56Kg | composition(%): | |
| 132-136RE | 4 hole-24" | 17.75Kg | C: 0.42-0.50 | |
| 132-136RE | 6 hole-36" | 26.63Kg | Mn: 0.50-0.80 | |
| UIC864 | UIC60 | 4 hole-630/Φ26 | 18.07Kg | Si: 0.17-0.37 |
| UIC60 | 4 hole-600/Φ28 | 17.47Kg | Cr: ≤0.25 | |
| UIC60 | 4 hole-630/Φ25 | 18.1Kg | P: ≤0.035 | |
| UIC54 | 4 hole | 14.34Kg | S: ≤0.035 | |
| UIC54 | 6 hole-800 | 19.94Kg | ||
| BS 47-1 | BS75R | 4 hole | 6.56Kg | |
| BS60A | 4 hole | 5.61Kg | ||
| BS80A | 4 hole | 6.5Kg | ||
| BS90A | 685.8/Φ26 | 13.23Kg | 50# chemical | |
| BS90A | 792.9/Φ26.2 | 15.34Kg | composition(%): | |
| BS100A | 4 hole | C: 0.62-0.70 | ||
| 90/91LB | 4 hole | 18.08Kg | Mn: 0.50-0.80 | |
| 90/91LB | 6 hole | 19.9Kg | Si: 0.17-0.37 | |
| AS | 50kg | 4 hole | 14.3Kg | Cr: ≤0.25 |
| 50kg | 6 hole | 19.5Kg | P: ≤0.035 | |
| S49 | 4 hole | 9.71Kg | S: ≤0.035 | |
Founded in 2008, GNEE RAILWAY RAILWAY 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.