What are the different types of rails?

Early rails were made of wood, cast iron or fashioned iron. All advanced rails are hot rolled steel with a cross segment (profile) I-section, not symmetric to horizontal axis. The head is profiled to oppose wear and to give a decent ride, and the foot profiled to suit the fixing framework.

 

What are the different types of rails?

Different types of rails according to European, Australian, American, Russian, British, ASCE, China and Indian standards. The following tables include information about the dimensions, section and mass of each rail type.

 

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

 

BS11:1985 Standard Steel Rail

 

Standard: BS11:1985
Size	Dimension(mm)				Weight (kg/m)	Length(m)
	Head	Height	Bottom	Thickness
50 O	52.39	100.01	100.01	10.32	24.833	6-18
60 A	57.15	114.3	109.54	11.11	30.618
75 A	61.91	128.59	114.3	12.7	37.455	8-25
75 R	61.91	128.59	122.24	13.1	37.041
80 A	63.5	133.35	117.47	13.1	39.761
80 R	63.5	133.35	127	13.49	39.674
90 A	66.67	142.88	127	13.89	45.099
100 A	69.85	152.4	133.35	15.08	50.182
113 A	69.85	158.75	139.7	20	56.398

 

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

 

DIN 13674-1-2003 Standard Steel Rail

 

Standard：DIN 536
Size	Dimension(mm)				Weight (kg/m)	Length(m)
	Head	Height	Bottom	Thickness
A55	55	65	150	31	31.8	10-12
A55	65	75	175	38	43.1
A75	75	85	200	45	56.2
A100	100	95	200	60	74.3
A120	120	105	200	72	100

Rail Steel- Why Special?

 

In contrast to some different employments of iron and steel, railroad rails are dependent upon exceptionally high stresses and are made of high-quality steel. It required numerous a very long time to improve the nature of the materials, including the change from iron to steel. Minor blemishes in the steel that may represent no issues in different applications can prompt broken rails and hazardous crashes when utilized on railroad tracks.

 

Common Rail Steel Grades Worldwide:

 

 

Grade	Standard / Region	Typical Composition (wt%)	Key Features & Applications
R260	EN 13674-1 (Europe)	C: 0.67–0.80, Mn: 0.90–1.20, Si: ≤0.50	Base-grade rail; cold-rolled; widely used on medium-traffic lines. Good weldability and cost efficiency.
R350HT	EN 13674-1 (Europe)	C: 0.75–0.85, Mn: 0.80–1.20, Cr: 0.20–0.50	Heat-treated (online/offline); UTS ≥1100 MPa; 30–50% longer life than R260. Standard for high-speed (TGV, ICE) and heavy-haul lines.
Grade 260	AREMA (North America)	C: ~0.77, Mn: ~1.0–1.2, Si: ~0.2	Equivalent to R260; used with rail sections like 115RE, 136RE. Common on Class I freight networks.
Grade 350	AREMA + Mill Specs (USA/Canada)	C: 0.78–0.83, Mn: 0.90–1.20, Cr: 0.2–0.6, + V/Nb (microalloyed)	TMCP or heat-treated; UTS ~1180–1280 MPa. For demanding curves, heavy axle loads (>33 ton), and high-tonnage corridors.
BH Rail (Bainitic)	JIS E 1101 (Japan), adopted in EU/India	C: 0.65–0.80, Mn: 1.0–1.4, Cr/Mo/Ni (optional, mill-specific)	Bainitic microstructure; high strength (UTS ~1250–1350 MPa) + superior fracture toughness. Used on Shinkansen curves and high-wear segments.
U71Mn	GB/T 2585 (China)	C: 0.65–0.77, Mn: 1.10–1.40, Si: 0.15–0.35	Work-hardening carbon-manganese rail; standard for 50kg/m, 60kg/m rails on Chinese mainlines. Comparable to R260/R350 in performance.
U75V	GB/T 2585 (China)	C: 0.67–0.77, Mn: 0.70–1.00, V: 0.04–0.12	Vanadium-microalloyed; higher strength & fatigue resistance than U71Mn. For high-speed (e.g., Beijing–Shanghai HSR) and heavy-haul lines.

Role of Rails: A Component of Rail Transport

 

 

• Provide consistent and level surface for train movement

 

• Provide a pathway which is smooth and has less friction.

 

• Bear the stress created because of vertical loads sent to it through axles and wheels, besides thermal stresses and breaking forces.

 

• Transmit load to broad area formation by passing it through sleeper and ballasts

 

Different rail sections and dimensions

 

 

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.

 

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