Among the various options for laying railway tracks, 38KG heavy rails and 75KG heavy rails each have their own applicable scenarios, and 38KG heavy rails show unique advantages in some specific aspects.
Significant cost-effectiveness
From the perspective of material cost, the nominal weight of 38KG heavy rails per meter is 38.733kg, which is significantly lighter than 75KG heavy rails. In large-scale railway construction, the amount of materials used is huge. The 38KG heavy rails are light in weight and require less steel, which directly reduces the cost of raw material procurement. For example, in the construction of a 100-kilometer railway branch line, if 38KG heavy rails are used, a large amount of steel can be saved compared to 75KG heavy rails, which can bring considerable cost savings in a market environment where steel prices fluctuate.
| Rail Type | SIZE(mm) | theoretical weight | |||||||||
| height | bottom width | head width | waist depth | ||||||||
| Heavy rail | 38KG | 134 | 114 | 68 | 13 | 38.733 | |||||
| 43KG | 140 | 114 | 70 | 14.5 | 44.653 | ||||||
| 45KG | 145 | 126 | 67 | 14.5 | 45.546 | ||||||
| 50KG | 152 | 132 | 70 | 15.5 | 51.514 | ||||||
| 60KG | 176 | 150 | 73 | 16.5 | 60.64 | ||||||
At the same time, its lighter weight makes the transportation and installation process more convenient. During transportation, the load requirements for transport vehicles are reduced, which reduces the number of transport vehicles and fuel consumption, saving transportation costs; during the installation process, the power and tonnage requirements of the required construction equipment are also reduced accordingly, and the construction manpower investment may also be reduced, further reducing the construction cost, which is particularly suitable for railway projects with relatively limited budgets.
Adapt to flexible scenarios
38KG heavy rails are outstanding in the flexibility of track laying. Its relatively light characteristics are fully demonstrated in some areas with complex terrain and limited construction space. For example, in mountain railway construction, the terrain is undulating, there are many bends, and the construction site is narrow. 38KG heavy rails are easier to carry and install, and construction personnel can lay them more flexibly in rugged terrain, reducing the construction difficulty and delays caused by terrain factors.
Moreover, in some lines that do not have extremely high requirements for track load, such as local railway branches, internal transportation tracks in factories and mines, etc., 38KG heavy rails are sufficient to meet daily operation needs. The traffic volume of these lines is relatively small, and the speed and weight of trains are limited. The use of 75KG heavy rails will cause excess performance and waste of resources. The perfect performance match of 38KG heavy rails makes it an ideal choice for such lines.
Convenient and efficient maintenance
In the daily maintenance of railway tracks, 38KG heavy rails also have advantages. Due to their light weight, they are easier to operate when inspecting and replacing damaged parts. Maintenance personnel can lift and carry rails more easily, reducing labor intensity and improving maintenance efficiency. When a section of track has problems such as wear and deformation and needs to replace rails, the time and labor cost required to replace 38KG heavy rails are lower than 75KG heavy rails.
Although 75KG heavy rails have an irreplaceable role in bearing super-large loads and high-speed heavy-load railways, 38KG heavy rails occupy an important position in many railway construction and operation scenarios with their advantages in cost, adaptability and maintenance, providing strong support for the diversified development of the railway industry.