How can we prevent creep in railway track?

What is rail creep?

 

Rail creep is also known as line crawl. The creeping phenomenon of the rail along the longitudinal direction of the line. With the increase in railway transportation tasks, the impact of the wheels on the rails when the train is running accelerates the creep of the rails. Rail creep can cause many diseases of the line. In order to prevent the occurrence of track creep diseases, it is necessary to find out the real cause of creeping in order to effectively eliminate the problem.

 

 

How can we prevent creep in railway track?

 

To prevent rail creep (longitudinal rail movement), use anti-creep devices like anchors/clips, increase ballast resistance with more/better packing, switch to stiffer steel/concrete sleepers, ensure strong fasteners, maintain proper ballast condition, and use Continuous Welded Rail (CWR) in modern systems, along with regular monitoring and correction.

 

Key Methods to Prevent Rail Creep:

 

• Rail Anchors/Anti-Creepers:

Rail anchors made in one-piece construction from spring steel are designed to fasten the steel rail tight on the base of the rail to prevent the rail from longitudinal movements, i.e. the " creeping" of the rail, caused by changing temperature, grades, traffic patterns, and braking action of trains.

 

 

Rail anchors vary in shapes, such as Improved Fair, Unit V or Channeled, with processing way of rolling, forging or casting. The latter two types are usually produced by casting, due to its complicated bending.

 

Name	Rail Anchors
Type	Used for 50Kg, 85Kg,90/91LB, 115RE /136RE ,UIC54 & UIC60 rail
	Or the type by customers' drawings
Material	60Si2MnA	45#	QT500-7
Chemical composition (%)	C:0.56-0.64, Mn:0.60-0.90, Si:1.60-2.00, Cr:≤0.35, P:≤0.03, S:≤0.03	C:0.42-0.50, Mn:0.50-0.80, Si:0.17-0.37, Cr:≤0.25, P:≤0.035, S:≤0.035	C:3.60-3.80, Mn:≤0.6, Si:2.50-2.90, P:≤0.08, S:≤0.025
Surface	plain (oiled),color painting

 

GNEE RAIL produce different types of rail anchors to compromise different rail sections including 85LB, 90LB, 115RE, 132REm UIC54, UIC60, 50kg, etc.

 

Type	Material	Weight(g/pc)
50Kg	60Si2MnA	800
70LB	60Si2MnA	800
85LB	60Si2MnA	800
90/91LB	60Si2MnA	800

 

• Sleeper Type:

Steel Sleepers: Offer better grip and stiffness, reducing creep.

Concrete Sleepers: Provide strong resistance, especially with effective fasteners like Elastic Rail Clips (ERCs).

 

 

• Ballast & Fastenings:

Adequate Ballast: Sufficient depth and good packing (tamping) provide greater resistance.

Strong Fasteners: Maintain proper clamping force with clips/bolts to resist rail-sleeper slip.

 

 

• Track Design (Modern Approach):

Continuous Welded Rail (CWR): Eliminates joints, reducing impact and creep, though requiring careful thermal management with expansion joints.

 

GNEE RAIL offers different kinds of railway fasteners to meet client's requirements, such as Elastic Rail Clip and Clamp, Rail Screw Spike, Plastic Dowel, High Tensile Track Bolt with Nut, Rail Base(Tie) Plate, Rail Fish Plate, Railway Shoulder(Insert), Fish Bolt, Railroad Rubber and EVA Pad, etc. Samples and drawings provided by customer, we will manufacture qualified products accordingly.

 

Click here to obtain the detailed product catalog of GNEE RAIL.