What Are the Three Types of Rails?

The Three Families of Steel Rail

Steel rails are the load-bearing guides of railway track. Working together with switches, they keep trains on a fixed path; a track consists of two parallel rails laid on sleepers, with ballast under the sleepers providing elasticity and absorbing dynamic forces. Depending on the application, the load capacity and the installation environment, rails fall into three main types: light rail, heavy rail and crane rail. Light rail serves low-speed and light-duty lines, heavy rail carries mainline passenger and freight traffic, and crane rail is shaped for the high concentrated loads of crane wheels on runways and gantry tracks.

Light Rail (8-30 kg/m)

Light rail is used on industrial sidings, mine branch lines, warehouses, temporary construction tracks and light tram installations. It is rolled in the GB series from 8 kg/m to 30 kg/m, and in the ASCE series (ASCE25 to ASCE85) for lighter industrial duty. The typical GB light rail table is: 8 kg/m (8.42), 9 kg/m (8.94), 12 kg/m (12.2), 15 kg/m (15.2), 18 kg/m (18.06), 22 kg/m (22.3), 24 kg/m (24.46) and 30 kg/m (30.1) actual weight per metre.

Heavy Rail (38-60 kg/m and above)

Heavy rail carries mainline traffic, heavy-haul freight and high-speed passenger services. The GB heavy rail series runs from 38 kg/m to 60 kg/m, with 75 kg/m available for very heavy duty: 38 kg/m (38.733), 43 kg/m (44.653), 45 kg/m (45.546), 50 kg/m (51.514) and 60 kg/m (60.64). The international families are: the UIC series (UIC50, UIC54 and UIC60), the EN series per EN 13674-1 (39E1, 45E1, 49E1, 49E2, 49E5, 50E1, 50E6, 54E1, 54E4 and 60E1), the JIS series per JIS E1103/E1101 (15 kg, 22 kg, 30 kg, 37A, 50 kg, 60 kg, 50KGN), and the AREMA series (115RE, 132RE, 136RE and others). Heavier rails carry higher axle loads and give a stiffer, more stable track; lighter rails are cheaper and easier to handle.

Crane Rail (QU Series and DIN 536)

Crane rail is designed for the concentrated wheel loads of cranes on runways, gantry cranes, port terminals and heavy industrial tracks. In the GB system it is the QU series: QU70 (52.8 kg/m), QU80 (63.69), QU100 (88.96) and QU120 (118.1). The DIN 536 series covers the same duty in Europe with profiles A45 to A120, and the JIS series includes CR73 (73.3 kg/m) and CR100 (100.2 kg/m) for crane runways. Crane rail is often supplied head-hardened to match the wear of the crane wheels, and it is usually ordered with fish plates and fasteners designed for the crane rail profile.

Selecting the Type and the Grade

The selection is driven by axle load, speed, curve radius, environment and the existing infrastructure. Heavier rails (50-60 kg/m and above) suit heavy-haul and high-speed lines; lighter rails (30 kg/m and below) suit factories, sidings and mining. The steel grade must match the profile: pairing U75V with 60 kg rail for heavy-haul duty, or head-hardened R350HT for curves, is what decides wear life, weldability and long-term track economy. Standard grades such as U71Mn cover the general range, while premium grades are reserved for the hardest duties.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What are the three types of rails?

Light rail, heavy rail and crane rail, classified by weight, application and load capacity.

Q2. What is the difference between light and heavy rail?

Heavy rail is heavier (38-60 kg/m and above) and stiffer, built for mainline axle loads; light rail (8-30 kg/m) serves sidings, mines and light traffic.

Q3. Which rail is used for cranes?

Crane rail - the GB QU series (QU70 to QU120), the DIN 536 series (A45-A120) or the JIS CR series - designed for concentrated crane wheel loads.

Q4. What does the weight in kg/m mean?

It is the nominal weight of one metre of rail, which is proportional to the section area and therefore to the load capacity and stiffness of the profile.

Q5. Can crane rail be used on mainline track?

No. Crane rail has a different head and foot shape optimised for crane wheels and runway fishplates; it is not interchangeable with mainline rail.

Q6. Which standard covers GB heavy rail?

GB 2585 (current edition GB 2585-2021) covers Chinese light rail, heavy rail and crane rail profiles and grades.