Heavy rail, light rail, and crane rail are types of steel tracks, distinguished by their weight (per meter), profile (shape), and primary application, with heavy rail for mainline trains, light rail for temporary/industrial use, and specialized crane rail for heavy lifting machinery, designed with unique shapes (like I-beams) to handle intense vertical and horizontal forces.
| 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 | ||||||
What is the difference between a light rail and a heavy rail?
The main difference is weight and application: Heavy steel rails (e.g., 50-75+ kg/m) are thick, robust tracks for high-speed, heavy-load trains on main lines, metros, and subways, while light steel rails (e.g., under 30 kg/m) are lighter, smaller, and used for lighter loads like urban trams, industrial cranes, or mine tracks. Heavy rails offer high load capacity and durability for main transport, whereas light rails prioritize portability and lower cost for specific, less demanding uses, often integrated into city streets.
Heavy Steel Rail
- Weight: Generally 38 kg/m and above (e.g., 60kg, 75kg).
- Application: Mainline railways, high-speed trains, metros, subways, handling massive cargo and passenger loads.
- Characteristics: Larger dimensions, greater cross-sectional area, higher load-bearing capacity, designed for extreme stress.
Light Steel Rail
- Weight: Typically below 30 kg/m (e.g., 6kg, 9kg, 12kg, 22kg, 30kg).
- Application: Urban trams, temporary tracks, factory/mine railways, light crane tracks, internal industrial lines.
- Characteristics: Lighter weight, smaller size, easier installation, lower cost, often embedded in pavement.
How to choose the right type of steel rail?
Choosing the right steel rail involves matching the rail's weight, profile, material, and strength to your specific needs, considering load capacity, traffic volume, speed, and environment, from heavy-duty railways needing strong profiles (like GB75kg/m) to light factory tracks using lighter options (like 22kg/m), ensuring safety, durability, and cost-effectiveness through careful analysis and sometimes expert consultation.
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