A steel rail is a primary track element whose geometry, hardness, and metallurgical properties ensure safe and smooth vehicle operation under various traffic loads and environmental conditions. It maintains track gauge and reduces deformation over time. GNEE RAIL provides steel rails in all international standards, including light/heavy GB rails, UIC50–UIC60, DIN536 A55–A120, QU70–QU120, JIS 15KG–CR100, AS1085 31–89 kg, BS11:1985, and AREMA/ASCE 25–175 lb, with complementary services such as welding, pre-assembly, and technical installation support.
| Standard | Sepc. | Material Typical Grade |
| UIC860 | UIC54 | 700,900A,900B |
| UIC60 | ||
| EN13674.1 | 5.00E+02 | R200,R350HT,R260Mn,R35LHT,R320Cr,R370CrHT |
| 5.40E+02 | ||
| 6.00E+02 | ||
| 6.00E+03 | ||
| BS-11-1985 | BS80A | 700,900A,900B |
| BS90A | ||
| BS100A | ||
| AREMA | 115RE | SS,HH,LA,IH |
| 136RE | ||
| ASCE60 | U71Mn | |
| ASCE85 | U71Mn | |
| GB 2585-2007 | 50kg/m | U71Mn |
| 60kg/m | U75V | |
| 75kg/m | ||
| TB/T2344-2012 | 50kg/m | U71Mn,U75V,U77MnCr |
| 60kg/m | U78CrV | |
| 75kg/m | ||
| GB 11264-1989 | 8kg/m | Q235 |
| 12kg/m | Q235 | |
| 15kg/m | 55Q, Q235 | |
| 18kg/m | 55Q, Q235 | |
| 22kg/m | 55Q, Q235 | |
| 24kg/m | 55Q, Q235 | |
| 30kg/m | 55Q, Q235 | |
| 38kg/m | 50Mn, U71Mn | |
| 43kg/m | 50Mn, U71Mn | |
| GB Crane rails | QU70 | U71Mn |
| QU80 | U71Mn | |
| QU100 | U71Mn | |
| QU120 | U71Mn |
What grade of steel is used for rail tracks?
Rail tracks use high-carbon, medium-manganese steels, commonly designated as Grade 1084 or similar, offering high hardness and wear resistance for heavy loads, with specific grades (like R260, R350HT) defined by international standards (EN 13674-1) for performance, sometimes incorporating micro-alloying elements like vanadium or chromium for enhanced strength and fatigue resistance, especially for heavy-haul lines.
Key Characteristics:
- High Carbon Content: Around 0.6% to 0.8% carbon for hardness.
- High Manganese: About 0.8% to 1.3% manganese for improved toughness and heat-treatability.
- Wear Resistance: Essential for withstanding friction and heavy wheel loads.
- Fracture Resistance: Toughness to prevent cracking under stress.
| Q235B | Mechanical property | Chemical composition(%) | |||||||||
| Yield strength | Tensile strength | Elongation | Hardness | C | Si | Mn | S | P | |||
| MPa | kg/mm² | MPa | kg/mm² | min | HB | ≤ | ≤ | ≤ | |||
| ≥ | ≥ | ||||||||||
| 235 | 24 | 375-460 | 38-47 | 26% | 0.12-0.22 | 0.35 | 0.30-0.70 | 0.045 | 0.045 | ||
| 55Q | Mechanical property | Chemical composition(%) | |||||||||
| Yield strength | Tensile strength | Elongation | Hardness | C | Si | Mn | S | P | |||
| MPa | kg/mm² | MPa | kg/mm² | min | HBW | ≤ | ≤ | ||||
| ≥ | ≥ | ≥ | ≥ | ≥ | |||||||
| 685 | 69 | 197 | 0.50-0.60 | 0.15-0.35 | 0.60-0.90 | 0.04 | 0.04 | ||||
Common Grades & Standards:
- 1084 Steel (American Standard): A common baseline medium-carbon steel.
- R260 / R350HT (European Standard): Grades indicating tensile strength (260 MPa / 350 MPa) with specific heat treatments (HT = Hardened & Tempered) for higher performance, notes {Link: Global Railway Review.
- Micro-alloyed Steels: Vanadium (V) or Niobium (Nb) added for superior strength, used in high-stress areas.
| Grade | Standard / Region | Typical Composition (wt%) |
| R260 | EN 13674-1 (Europe) | C: 0.67–0.80, Mn: 0.90–1.20, Si: ≤0.50 |
| R350HT | EN 13674-1 (Europe) | C: 0.75–0.85, Mn: 0.80–1.20, Cr: 0.20–0.50 |
| Grade 260 | AREMA (North America) | C: ~0.77, Mn: ~1.0–1.2, Si: ~0.2 |
| Grade 350 | AREMA + Mill Specs (USA/Canada) | C: 0.78–0.83, Mn: 0.90–1.20, Cr: 0.2–0.6, + V/Nb (microalloyed) |
| BH Rail (Bainitic) | JIS E 1101 (Japan), adopted in EU/India | C: 0.65–0.80, Mn: 1.0–1.4, Cr/Mo/Ni (optional, mill-specific) |
| U71Mn | GB/T 2585 (China) | C: 0.65–0.77, Mn: 1.10–1.40, Si: 0.15–0.35 |
| U75V | GB/T 2585 (China) | C: 0.67–0.77, Mn: 0.70–1.00, V: 0.04–0.12 |
What are the types of rail sections?
The main types of rail sections are Double-headed, Bull-headed, and Flat-footed (Vignole), evolving from early designs for symmetric use (double-headed), to stronger shapes for specific uses (bull-headed, needing chairs), to the modern, cost-effective flat-footed design directly attached to sleepers, now most common for main lines, with specialized grooved rails for trams and check rails used in switches.
Main Types of Rail Sections
- Double-headed Rail: Symmetrical top and bottom, designed to be flipped for extended life, but largely obsolete due to maintenance issues.
- Bull-headed Rail: Features a thicker head for strength, common in older systems and points/crossings, requiring special chairs and keys for fastening.
- Flat-footed (Vignole) Rail: The most common type today, with a flat base for direct attachment to sleepers, making installation easier 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.