Rail track is an essential component of rail track, and its function is to guide the train wheels moving forward by withstanding the enormous pressure pushed by the wheels. Steel rail shall provide smooth, stable and continuous rolling surface for the passing train wheels. In electrical railway or automatic block section, railway track can also be used as track circuit.
What is the length of a railroad rail?
Railroad rail lengths vary significantly by region and type, ranging from traditional shorter sections like North America's 39 ft (12m) or UK's ~66 ft (20m) for jointed track, to modern Continuous Welded Rail (CWR) that can be miles long, formed by welding shorter rails (like 25m, 30m, 36m) into massive lengths for smoother, lower-maintenance tracks.
Common Lengths & Trends:
- North America (Traditional): Around 39 feet (12 meters) for jointed track, with some up to 78 ft (24m).
| ASTM standard, AREMA standard | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Size | Dimension(mm) | Weight (kg/m) |
Length(m) | |||
| Head | Height | Foot | Thickness | |||
| ASCE 25 | 38.1 | 69.85 | 69.85 | 7.54 | 12.4 | 6-12 |
| ASCE 30 | 42.86 | 79.38 | 79.38 | 8.33 | 14.88 | |
| ASCE 40 | 47.62 | 88.9 | 88.9 | 9.92 | 19.84 | |
| ASCE 60 | 60.32 | 107.95 | 107.95 | 12.3 | 29.76 | |
| ASCE 75 | 62.71 | 122.24 | 122.24 | 13.49 | 37.2 | 12-25 |
| ASCE 85 | 65.09 | 131.76 | 131.76 | 14.29 | 42.17 | |
| ASCE 90 | 69.09 | 130.18 | 142.88 | 14.29 | 44.65 | |
| ASCE 115 | 69.06 | 139.7 | 168.28 | 15.88 | 56.9 | |
| ASCE 136 | 74.61 | 152.4 | 185.74 | 17.46 | 67.41 | |
| ASCE 175 | 109.86 | 152.4 | 152.4 | 38.1 | 86.8 | |
- Europe (Traditional): Often 30 meters (98 ft).
- Modern Trend: Welding shorter rails (e.g., 12-25m) into very long sections (hundreds of meters, even miles) for CWR, reducing joints, improving ride quality, and lowering maintenance.
- Japan/China: Standard lengths can be 25m or 50m, with 100m rails produced.
| 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 |
| Standard: GB11264-89 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Size | Dimension(mm) | Weight (kg/m) |
Length(m) | |||
| Head | Height | Bottom | Thickness | |||
| GB6KG | 25.4 | 50.8 | 50.8 | 4.76 | 5.98 | 6-12 |
| GB9KG | 32.1 | 63.5 | 63.5 | 5.9 | 8.94 | |
| GB12KG | 38.1 | 69.85 | 69.85 | 7.54 | 12.2 | |
| GB15KG | 42.86 | 79.37 | 79.37 | 8.33 | 15.2 | |
| GB22KG | 50.3 | 93.66 | 93.66 | 10.72 | 23.3 | |
| GB30KG | 60.33 | 107.95 | 107.95 | 12.3 | 30.1 | |
| Standard: YB222-63 | ||||||
| 8KG | 25 | 65 | 54 | 7 | 8.42 | 6-12 |
| 18KG | 40 | 90 | 80 | 10 | 18.06 | |
| 24KG | 51 | 107 | 92 | 10.9 | 24.46 | |
| Standard: GB2585-2007 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Size | Dimension(mm) | Weight (kg/m) |
Length(m) | |||
| Head | Height | Bottom | Thickness | |||
| P38KG | 68 | 134 | 114 | 13 | 38.733 | 12.5-25 |
| P43KG | 70 | 140 | 114 | 14.5 | 44.653 | |
| P50KG | 70 | 152 | 132 | 15.5 | 51.514 | |
| P60KG | 73 | 170 | 150 | 16.5 | 61.64 | |
| Standard: YB/T5055-93 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Size | Dimension(mm) | Weight (kg/m) |
Length(m) | |||
| Head | Height | Bottom | Thickness | |||
| QU 70 | 70 | 120 | 120 | 28 | 52.8 | 12 |
| QU 80 | 80 | 130 | 130 | 32 | 63.69 | |
| QU 100 | 100 | 150 | 150 | 38 | 88.96 | |
| QU 120 | 120 | 170 | 170 | 44 | 118.1 | |
Since 2008, GNEE RAIL has been supplying steel rails of different grades for more than 18 years, steel rails from GNEE is highly recommened in China and abroad.Wtih cutting edge equipment, GNEE produces high quality steel rails that meet with requirements of most countries. Standard rail, head hardened rail, heavy rail,light rail,crane rail and other types are all available here, as one of the China main rail supplier, GNEE RAIL has been working on supplying economical green railway products all over the world.