What are the specifications of the elastic rail clip?
Jan 28, 2026
A rail clip is an elastic holding device that maintains consistent rail positioning by converting installation deflection into continuous clamping force, ensuring reliable fastening under vibration, impact, and thermal cycling. GNEE RAIL provides complete elastic clip systems including E-Type, SKL, Nabla, Pandrol(PR), KPO, Deenik, Fast Clip, Crane Rail Clip, and Russian Rail Clip types, supporting railway, metro, and crane runway tracks.
What are the specifications of the elastic rail clip?
Elastic rail clips (ERC) are high-strength spring steel fasteners (often grade 55Si7) designed for modern, heavy-haul, and high-speed tracks to provide, toe loads of roughly 850-1000 kgf per clip. They typically feature 18mm to 23mm rod diameters, HRC 41–46 hardness, and must withstand over 3-5 million fatigue cycles.
Key Technical Specifications & Parameters:
- Material: Spring steel (e.g., 55Si7, 60Si2Mn).
| Element / Grade | 60Si2Mn | 60Si2CrA | 55Si2Mn | 38Si7 (≈1.5023) | 55Si7 (≈1.0904) | 65Si7 (≈1.0906) |
| Carbon (C) | 0.56–0.64 | 0.56–0.64 | 0.52–0.60 | 0.35–0.42 | 0.52–0.60 | 0.62–0.70 |
| Silicon (Si) | 1.50–2.00 | 1.40–1.80 | 1.50–2.00 | 1.60–2.00 | 1.60–2.00 | 1.60–2.00 |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.60–0.90 | 0.40–0.70 | 0.60–0.90 | 0.50–0.80 | 0.70–1.00 | 0.70–1.00 |
| Chromium (Cr) | ≤0.30 | 0.70–1.00 | ≤0.30 | ≤0.30 | ≤0.30 | ≤0.30 |
| Nickel (Ni) | ≤0.35 | ≤0.35 | ≤0.35 | – | – | – |
| Phosphorus (P) | ≤0.025 | ≤0.025 | ≤0.025 | ≤0.025 | ≤0.025 | ≤0.025 |
| Sulfur (S) | ≤0.025 | ≤0.025 | ≤0.025 | ≤0.025 | ≤0.025 | ≤0.025 |
| Key Standard | GB/T 1222 | GB/T 1222 | GB/T 1222 | EN 10089 | EN 10089 | EN 10089 |
- Manufacturing Process: Hot forged, oil-hardened, and tempered.
- Diameter: Generally available in 18mm, 20mm, 22mm, and 23mm.
- Hardness: HRC 41-46.
- Fatigue Resistance: No breakage after 3–5 million cycles (depending on diameter).
- Toe Load (Initial): 850 kgf to 1000 kgf (with 9-11mm deflection).
- Surface Finish: Plain (oiled), oxide black, Zinc plated, Hot Dip Galvanized (HDG), or Dacro coating.
| Clip Type | Description / Key Feature | Common Models / Series | Typical Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-Type Rail Clip (E-Clip) | Known for durable alignment, used to secure rails under high pressure. | E1609, E1809, E1817, E2007, E2009, E2055 | High-speed & heavy-haul railways. |
| SKL Tension Clip | A highly common and flexible fastening system. | SKL1, SKL3, SKL12, SKL14, SKL75 | Mainline concrete sleeper tracks globally. |
| Nabla Rail Clip | A specialized, high-performance clip. | (Specific models vary by system) | Concrete sleeper fastening systems. |
| Fast Clip | Designed for rapid installation and high holding force, applied perpendicular to the rail. | (System-specific variants) | Rail systems requiring quick installation. |
| KPO Clamp | A heavy-duty, bolted fastening system. | KPO3, KPO6 | Cranes and heavy-haul railways. |
| PR Series Clip | A specialized clip for Pandrol fastening systems. | PR309, PR601 | Tracks using Pandrol fastening systems. |
| Deenik Clip | Known for its specific, often Y-shaped structure for secure, long-term fastening. | (Model numbers vary) | Applications requiring long-term, secure fastening. |
| Russian Rail Clip | Heavy-duty clips designed to comply with Russian railway standards. | (Specific to GOST standards) | Railways adhering to Russian standards. |
| Anti-Theft Clip | Specialized clips designed to prevent unauthorized removal. | 18Φ Single Anti-Theft Clip | Tracks in areas with high risk of tampering or theft. |
How to choose the right rail spring clip?
Choosing the right rail spring clip (or elastic rail clip) requires matching the clip's material, dimensions, and holding force to the specific rail weight, sleeper type (concrete, steel, or wood), and operating environment to ensure safety and longevity. Key factors include selecting high-quality steel (e.g., 60Si2MnA), verifying fatigue life for heavy loads, and choosing appropriate surface treatments like hot-dip galvanizing for coastal/corrosive areas.
GNEE RAIL supplies E rail clips, SKL rail clips, Nabla types rail clips, KPO rail clips, and other customized types of rail clips,these rail clips are designed with high precision and made up of premium grade spring steel. GNEE has been the largest and most competitive production base of rail clip in China after more than 18 years' rail clip producing experience, and have qualification to tender nationally large and medium scaled rail projects. What's more, our rail clip can be customized according to clients' requirements.
