A steel rail is a continuous steel beam with a defined head, web, and foot, designed to support rolling loads and ensure controlled wheel guidance in transportation and material-handling systems. Its geometry and material grade determine wear resistance and structural stiffness.
GNEE RAIL provides complete rail solutions covering GB standards, UIC50–UIC60, DIN536 A55–A120, QU70–QU120 crane rails, JIS series from 15KG to CR100, AS1085 31KG–89KG, BS11:1985, and AREMA/ASCE rail sections, and also supplies welding, profile machining, and installation technical guidance.
| 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 is the working principle of a train?
A steel rail works by providing a hard, smooth, low-friction path for steel wheels, guiding them with minimal resistance while transferring massive wheel loads vertically to the sleepers and ballast below, using principles of adhesion (friction for propulsion/braking) and structural strength to manage vertical and lateral stresses from passing trains, effectively acting as a continuous bridge that distributes weight and directs movement.
Its core functions involve guidance, load support, and enabling low-friction, high-adhesion motion, optimized through specialized steel composition and design.
Key Working Principles
- Load Distribution: Rails act like continuous beams, bending slightly to distribute the concentrated wheel load over several sleepers and the ballast, preventing the track from failing.
- Guidance & Smooth Surface: The flanged wheels run on the smooth top surface of the rail, with the flange providing lateral guidance, ensuring the train stays on track.
- Low Friction & High Adhesion: The metal-on-metal contact between steel wheels and steel rails creates a very low coefficient of friction, allowing for efficient movement, but also high adhesion for traction and braking, crucial for starting and stopping.
- Stress Management: Rails are designed to withstand immense vertical (from weight) and transverse (from curves/swaying) stresses, with specialized heat treatments creating hard, wear-resistant surface
What is the material of rail?
Railway rails are primarily made from high-carbon steel, often alloyed with manganese, silicon, chromium, or vanadium for enhanced strength, hardness, and wear resistance, with specific grades and heat treatments (like quenching & tempering) chosen for high-speed, heavy-haul, or curved track applications to withstand extreme loads, friction, and impacts.
Common Rail Grades (Examples)
- R260 & R350HT: Widely used carbon/manganese steels, offering good balance for general and heavy use.
- U71Mn: A high-strength Chinese standard, high in carbon and manganese, for heavy loads.
- Alloy Steels: For extreme conditions, incorporating elements like chromium for maximum wear resistance.
| 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 |
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.