Comparison of Diffenert International Rail Standards

A steel rail is a crucial component of a railway track system, designed to guide train wheels and transfer the loads from locomotives and rolling stock to the sleepers. Steel rails are made from high-strength steel grades, such as U71Mn, U75V, and 55Q, which provide the necessary durability, wear resistance, and stability for both high-speed and industrial rail applications. GNEE RAIL offer various steel rails including light rails, heavy rails, and crane rails, alongside supporting rail fasteners, joint bars, and custom installation services.

 

 

Comparison of Diffenert International Rail Standards

Section Length Variations:

 

• Short rails (6–12 m) are ideal for industrial, mining, or crane tracks.

 

• Standard rails (12–25 m) are used for mainline passenger and freight operations.

 

Rail Weight & Material:

 

• Lighter rails (6–30 kg/m) are used in low-load environments.

 

• Heavier rails (50–136 kg/m) provide strength for high-speed and heavy freight lines.

 

Applications by Region:

 

• GB / China: Full spectrum from light industrial rails to crane rails.

 

• UIC / Europe: High-speed and heavy freight emphasis.

 

• JIS / Japan: Focus on urban and industrial medium-load lines.

 

• AREMA / ASCE / USA: Heavy-duty mainline and industrial applications.

 

• Australia & South Africa: Diverse rail use including urban, industrial, and mining.

 

 

Standard / Country	Rail Type	Typical Section Length (m)	Rail Weight (kg/m)	Material	Application
GB / China	Light Rail	6–12	6–30	Q235, 55Q	Mining, industrial, light urban tracks
	Heavy Rail	12–25	38–60	U71Mn, U75V, U77MnCr, U78CrV	Mainline heavy rail, passenger & freight
	Crane Rail	12	52.8–118.1	U71Mn	Cranes, ports, industrial lines
UIC / Europe	Standard Heavy Rail	12–25	50–60	R260, R350HT	Mainline, high-speed, freight
JIS / Japan	Light to Medium Rail	9–12	22–50	JIS E Standard	Urban, industrial, light to medium load lines
AREMA / ASCE / USA	Heavy Rail	12–25	25–136	SS, HH, LA, IH	Mainline, freight, industrial tracks
Australian Standard AS1085	Light & Heavy Rail	8–25	31–86	900A/1100	Urban, mainline, industrial
South African ISCOR	Light & Heavy Rail	9–25	15–57	700–900A	Mainline, industrial, mining

 

Specification of Steel Track Rail

 

GB Standard Steel Rail

 

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
	22 KG/M	93.66	50.8	93.66	10.72	22.3
	24 KG/M	107	51	90	10.9	24.46
	30 KG/M	107.95	60.33	107.95	12.3	30.1
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
Crane Rail	QU 70	120	70	120	28	52.8
	QU 80	130	80	130	32	63.69
	QU 100	150	100	150	38	88.96
	QU 120	170	120	170	44	118.1

 

American Standard Steel Rail

 

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

 

UIC 860 Standard Steel Rail

 

Standard: UIC860
Size	Dimension(mm)				Weight (kg/m)	Length(m)
	Head	Height	Bottom	Thickness
UIC50	70	152	125	15	50.46	12-25
UIC54	70	159	140	16	54.43
UIC60	74.3	172	150	16.5	60.21

 

JIS E 1103/1101 Standard Steel Rail

 

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

 

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.

 

What are the main materials used in steel rails?

 

Steel rails are primarily manufactured from high-strength carbon-manganese steel grades, such as U71Mn, U75V, 55Q, Q235, and R350HT, chosen for wear resistance, fatigue strength, and the ability to withstand dynamic loads. Different regions may adopt slightly different compositions: for example, Japanese JIS rails focus on ductility and smooth finish, while European UIC rails emphasize hardness and high-speed compatibility. GNEE RAIL supplies rails in these international grades and can produce custom steel compositions to suit extreme environments like mining or coastal railways.

 

 

Rail Grade	C (%)	Mn (%)	Si (%)	Typical Application
U71Mn	0.65–0.76	1.10–1.40	0.15–0.35	Mainline heavy rail, high-speed freight
U75V	0.71–0.80	0.70–1.05	0.50–0.80	High-speed rail, heavy-duty applications
55Q	0.50–0.60	0.60–0.90	0.15–0.35	Light rail, industrial lines
Q235	0.12–0.20	0.30–0.70	≤0.30	Mining, light industrial lines

 

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.

 

Get A Quote& Drawing