What are features of rail pad?
Dec 19, 2025
What are features of rail pad?
Rail pad is a kind of rail fasteners used between the rails and the tie plate, and it is usually made of elastic polyurethane mat. It is usually used under the rails and above the tie plate. Rubber rail pad can buffer the shake that the vehicles pushed on the tie plate and protect the tie plate and the sleeper from abrasion and impaction and prolong the service life of other fasteners.
Functional Features (Design & Performance) of Railway Elastic Pad
- Shock Absorption: Cushions the impact of wheels on sleepers.
- Vibration/Noise Reduction: Dampens vibrations and minimizes noise from train movement.
- Load Distribution: Spreads wheel loads over a larger surface, reducing stress concentration.
- Abrasion Resistance: Protects sleepers and rail seats from wear.
- Electrical Insulation: Can provide insulation for signaling systems (in some types).
- Stability: Enhances overall track stability and alignment.
- Sealing: Fills gaps, preventing debris ingress.
How thick are railroad pads?
Rail pad thickness varies significantly by application, typically ranging from 5 mm to 20 mm, with common thicknesses around 8-12 mm, but can go thicker (up to 25mm+) for heavy loads, while thinner pads (4.5-6mm) are used in specific scenarios, balancing cushioning, vibration dampening, and maintaining track profile for different rail types (high-speed, heavy-haul, urban).
Typical Thickness Ranges
- Standard/General Use: 5-10 mm
- Urban/Metro: 6-10 mm
- High-Speed Rail: 8-12 mm (for smoothness and reduced vertical deformation)
- Heavy-Haul Lines: 12-20 mm (to handle larger loads and prevent wear)
Features of Rubber Rail Pad from GNEE RAIL
- Shock absorption, ageing resistance, abrasion resistance, stability, thermal stress resistibility. Rubber rail pads are made of natural rubber, butadiene-styrene rubber, chloroprene rubber adhesive, HDPE and EVA. The rubber rail pads made by GNEE RAIL has many features like high elasticity, non-deformation and non-breaking in a large range of temperatures.
| Raw Material | Rubber, EVA, TPEE, HDPE |
| Standard | UIC, AREMA, TB/T2626-95 |
| Application | 43kg/m, 50kg/m, 60kg/m, 75kg/m,115RE, UIC54, UIC60, S49 |
| Model number | 43-7-7, 43-10-7, 50-7-9, 50-10-9, 60-10-17, 60-12-17 |
| Operating temperature | -50~70 degrees |
| Certificate | MSDS, ROHS, REACH |
| Notes | They should be stored in a clean, ventilated place. Don't be in direct sunlight, and keep away from the heat source and chemical reagent. Don't touch the oil, organic solvent, and other chemicals. Banned exposure. |
- Long service life, low maintenance and replacement costs.
- We can produce various standards of rubber rail pads with different materials, the rubber rail pads are suitable for wooden railway sleepers, concrete railway sleepers and steel railway sleepers.
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.
