What is UIC in Railways?
The International Union of Railways, referred to as UIC, was established in Paris, the capital of France, according to the proposal of the International Economic Conference held in Genoa in December 1922. At that time, 46 railway institutions from 27 countries participated. By January 1983, there were 68 railway institutions and 15 railway institutions. A body in which railway-related organizations participate. The purpose is to improve the conditions of railway development and railway construction and achieve standardization for the benefit of international transportation.
At present, the two models UIC54 and UIC60 are most used in international railway construction. GNEE RAIL supplies a large number of UIC rails to the international market, and has rich experience in processing and transporting ultra-long rails.
UIC RAILS TYPES
UIC54 Rail
54E1 UIC54 steel rail is mainly used as transportation railway rail for heavy vehicle, and it can be also used in underground mining and crane industry. GNEE RAIL could also offer EN standard rails, including 60E1 steel rail, UIC60 steel rail, 54E1 steel rail, UIC54 steel rail., etc.
- Size: 54E1 UIC54 steel rail
- Length: 5m~25m or other length according to customers' requirement
- Material: R200, R260, R260MN, R350HT
- Standard: EN 13674 – 4
- Materials:
| Steel Grade | Typical Hardness (HB) | Tensile Strength (MPa) | Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| R260 | ~260 | ≥ 880 | Conventional mainline |
| R350HT | ~350 | ≥ 1175 | Heavy haul, curves |
| R370CrHT | ~370 | ≥ 1200 | Extreme wear zones |
| Size | Rail height(mm)
A |
Bottom Width(mm)
B |
Head Width(mm)
C |
Web Thickness(mm)
t |
Weight(kg/m) |
| 50E1 | 153.00 | 134.00 | 65.00 | 15.50 | 50.37 |
| 50E2(50EB-T) | 151.00 | 140.00 | 72.00 | 15.00 | 49.97 |
| 50E4 | 152.00 | 125.00 | 70.00 | 15.00 | 50.46 |
| 50E5 | 148.00 | 135.00 | 67.00 | 14.00 | 49.90 |
| 50E6(U50) | 153.00 | 140.00 | 65.00 | 15.50 | 50.90 |
| 54E1(UIC54) | 159.00 | 140.00 | 70.00 | 16.00 | 54.77 |
| 54E2(UIC54E) | 161.00 | 125.00 | 67.00 | 16.00 | 53.82 |
UIC60 Rail
The 60E1 rail model is produced according to the European standard EN 13674-1.
It is mainly used as transportation railway rail for heavy vehicle, and it can be also used in underground mining and crane industry. GNEE RAIL could also offer EN standard rails, including 60E1 steel rail, UIC60 steel rail (UIC 60 rail), 54E1 steel rail, UIC54 steel rail., etc.
- Size: 60E1 UIC60 rail
- Length: 5m~25m or other length according to customers' requirement
- Material: R200, R260, R260MN, R350HT
- Standard: EN 13674 – 4
| Size | Rail height(mm)
A |
Bottom Width(mm)
B |
Head Width(mm)
C |
Web Thickness(mm)
t |
Weight(kg/m) |
| 54E3(DINS54) | 154.00 | 125.00 | 67.00 | 16.00 | 54.57 |
| 54E4 | 154.00 | 125.00 | 67.00 | 16.00 | 54.31 |
| 54E5(54E1AHC) | 159.00 | 140.00 | 70.20 | 16.00 | 54.42 |
| 55E1 | 155.00 | 134.00 | 62.00 | 19.00 | 56.03 |
| 56E1(BS113Lb) | 158.75 | 140.00 | 69.85 | 20.00 | 56.30 |
| 60E1(UIC60) | 172.00 | 150.00 | 72.00 | 16.50 | 60.21 |
| 60E2 | 172.00 | 150.00 | 72.00 | 16.50 | 60.03 |
How is UIC different from other international rail standards?
UIC standards coexist with many other international rail systems, including AREMA (USA), JIS (Japan), GB (China), and DIN (Germany). The main differences lie in section geometry, naming conventions, material systems, and fastening compatibility. For example, American AREMA 136RE rails have different head and base proportions compared with UIC60, even though their weights per meter are similar. Japanese JIS 60kg rails also differ slightly in profile geometry and tolerances, affecting sleeper and clip selection.
| Standard | Typical Heavy Rail | Weight (kg/m) | Common Markets |
|---|---|---|---|
| UIC / EN | UIC60 (60E1) | 60.21 | Europe, Middle East, Africa |
| AREMA | 136RE | 67.41 | North America |
| JIS | JIS 60kg | 60.8 | Japan, Southeast Asia |
| GB | 60kg (GB2585) | 60.64 | China, Belt & Road projects |
GNEE RAIL, as an export-oriented supplier, supports UIC, EN, AREMA, JIS, and GB standards, enabling project owners to source rails and fastening systems from a single supplier while meeting local regulatory requirements.