What Are Train Rails Made Of?
Train rails are made from medium- to high-carbon steels with manganese or vanadium alloying to improve strength and wear resistance. In real projects there is no single universal material: the steel grade is selected to match the rail standard, the rail section and the traffic duty. A light industrial rail can be rolled from Q235B, while a high-speed mainline rail is made from vanadium-microalloyed U75V or heat-treated R350HT. The pairing of material and profile determines service life, maintenance intervals and compatibility with the fastening system.
Rail Steel Grades and Their Duty Levels
| Steel Grade |
Typical Rail Standards and Models |
Duty Level |
| Q235B |
18 kg/m, 22 kg/m, 30 kg/m (GB light rail) |
Light transport, temporary tracks |
| 55Q |
30 kg/m, ASCE40 and similar light sections |
Medium industrial traffic |
| U71Mn |
50 kg/m, 60 kg/m, QU70-QU120 crane rail |
Heavy industrial and port railways |
| U75V / U75VG |
60 kg/m, 75 kg/m (GB heavy rail) |
Heavy-haul railway sections |
| R260 |
UIC54, UIC60, 54E1, 60E1 |
Standard mainline railway |
| R350HT |
UIC60, 60E1 (heat-treated) |
High-speed and heavy freight |
| 900A / 1100 grade |
115RE, 132RE (AREMA) |
North American heavy freight |
Chemical Composition of Common Rail Steel Grades
| Grade |
Standard / Region |
Typical Composition (wt%) |
| R260 |
EN 13674-1 (Europe) |
C 0.67-0.80, Mn 0.90-1.20, Si <=0.50 |
| R350HT |
EN 13674-1 (Europe) |
C 0.75-0.85, Mn 0.80-1.20, Cr 0.20-0.50 |
| Grade 260 |
AREMA (North America) |
C ~0.77, Mn ~1.0-1.2, Si ~0.2 |
| Grade 350 |
AREMA and mill specs (USA/Canada) |
C 0.78-0.83, Mn 0.90-1.20, Cr 0.2-0.6, + V/Nb microalloying |
| BH (bainitic) |
JIS E 1101, also adopted in EU/India |
C 0.65-0.80, Mn 1.0-1.4, optional Cr/Mo/Ni |
| U71Mn |
GB/T 2585 (China) |
C 0.65-0.77, Mn 1.10-1.40, Si 0.15-0.35 |
| U75V |
GB/T 2585 (China) |
C 0.67-0.77, Mn 0.70-1.00, V 0.04-0.12 |
| Q235B |
GB/T 700 (China) |
C <=0.20, Mn 0.30-0.70, Si <=0.35, S/P <=0.045 |
| 55Q |
GB 2585 (China) |
C 0.50-0.60, Si 0.15-0.35, Mn 0.60-0.90, S/P <=0.04 |
Mechanical Properties of Light Rail Steels
| Grade |
Yield Strength (MPa) |
Tensile Strength (MPa) |
Hardness |
Elongation |
| Q235B |
>=235 |
375-460 |
- |
>=26% |
| 55Q |
- |
>=685 (69 kg/mm2) |
~197 HBW |
- |
| U71Mn |
- |
>=880 |
240-270 HB |
- |
| U75V |
- |
>=980 |
240-270 HB |
- |
| R350HT |
- |
>=1175 |
350-390 HB |
- |
Rail Section Dimension Tables by Standard
Chinese Standard Rail (GB)
| Classification |
Height (mm) |
Head (mm) |
Bottom (mm) |
Web Thickness (mm) |
Weight (kg/m) |
| Light 8 kg/m |
65 |
25 |
54 |
7 |
8.42 |
| Light 12 kg/m |
69.85 |
38.1 |
69.85 |
7.54 |
12.2 |
| Light 18 kg/m |
80 |
40 |
80 |
10 |
18.06 |
| Light 22 kg/m |
93.66 |
50.8 |
93.66 |
10.72 |
22.3 |
| Light 30 kg/m |
107.95 |
60.33 |
107.95 |
12.3 |
30.1 |
| Heavy 38 kg/m |
134 |
68 |
114 |
13 |
38.73 |
| Heavy 43 kg/m |
140 |
70 |
114 |
14.5 |
44.65 |
| Heavy 50 kg/m |
152 |
70 |
132 |
15.5 |
51.51 |
| Heavy 60 kg/m |
176 |
73 |
150 |
16.5 |
60.64 |
| Crane QU70 |
120 |
70 |
120 |
28 |
52.8 |
| Crane QU100 |
150 |
100 |
150 |
38 |
88.96 |
| Crane QU120 |
170 |
120 |
170 |
44 |
118.1 |
DIN 536 Crane Rail (A-Series)
| Section |
Height A (mm) |
Foot F (mm) |
Head C (mm) |
Web t (mm) |
Steel Grade |
Mass (kg/m) |
| A45 |
55 |
125 |
45 |
24 |
50Mn |
22.1 |
| A55 |
65 |
150 |
55 |
31 |
50Mn |
31.8 |
| A65 |
75 |
175 |
65 |
38 |
50Mn |
43.1 |
| A75 |
85 |
200 |
75 |
45 |
U71Mn |
56.2 |
| A100 |
95 |
200 |
100 |
60 |
U71Mn |
74.3 |
| A120 |
105 |
220 |
120 |
72 |
U71Mn |
100 |
| A150 |
150 |
220 |
150 |
80 |
U71Mn |
150.3 |
DIN 5901 Light Rail
| Section |
Height A (mm) |
Foot F (mm) |
Head C (mm) |
Web t (mm) |
Steel Grade |
Mass (kg/m) |
| S10 |
70 |
58 |
32 |
6 |
Q235B / 55Q |
10 |
| S14 |
80 |
70 |
38 |
9 |
Q235B / 55Q |
14 |
| S18 |
93 |
82 |
43 |
10 |
Q235B / 55Q |
18.3 |
| S20 |
100 |
82 |
44 |
10 |
Q235B / 55Q |
19.8 |
| S24 |
115 |
90 |
53 |
10 |
Q235B / 55Q |
24.4 |
| S30 |
108 |
108 |
60.3 |
12.3 |
Q235B / 55Q |
30.03 |
EN 13674 Rail Sections
| Section |
Standard |
Height A (mm) |
Foot F (mm) |
Head C (mm) |
Web t (mm) |
Mass (kg/m) |
| 39E1 (BS80A) |
EN 13674-4 |
133.4 |
117.5 |
63.5 |
13.1 |
39.77 |
| 45E1 (BS90A) |
EN 13674-4 |
142.88 |
127 |
66.67 |
13.89 |
45.11 |
| 49E1 (S49) |
EN 13674-4 |
149 |
125 |
67 |
14 |
49.39 |
| 50E1 |
EN 13674-4 |
153 |
134 |
65 |
15.5 |
50.37 |
| 54E1 (UIC54) |
EN 13674-4 |
159 |
140 |
70 |
16 |
54.77 |
| 56E1 (BS113A) |
EN 13674-4 |
158.75 |
140 |
69.85 |
20 |
56.3 |
| 60E1 (UIC60) |
EN 13674-4 |
172 |
150 |
72 |
16.5 |
60.21 |
ASTM A1 / AREMA Rail (ASCE Series)
| Section |
Height (mm) |
Foot (mm) |
Head (mm) |
Web t (mm) |
Steel Grade |
Weight (kg/m) |
| ASCE25 |
69.85 |
69.85 |
38.1 |
7.54 |
55Q |
12.2 |
| ASCE30 |
79.37 |
79.37 |
42.86 |
8.33 |
55Q |
15.2 |
| ASCE40 |
88.9 |
88.9 |
47.6 |
9.9 |
55Q |
19.84 |
| ASCE60 |
107.95 |
107.95 |
60.33 |
12.3 |
55Q |
30.1 |
| ASCE85 |
131.76 |
131.76 |
65.09 |
14.29 |
U71Mn |
42.3 |
JIS E 1101 Rail
| Section |
Height (mm) |
Foot (mm) |
Head (mm) |
Web t (mm) |
Steel Grade |
Weight (kg/m) |
| JIS 9 kg |
63.5 |
63.5 |
32.1 |
5.9 |
55Q / 50Mn |
8.94 |
| JIS 12 kg |
69.85 |
69.85 |
38.1 |
7.54 |
55Q / 50Mn |
12.2 |
| JIS 15 kg |
79.37 |
79.37 |
42.86 |
8.33 |
55Q / 50Mn |
15.2 |
| JIS 22 kg |
93.66 |
93.66 |
50.8 |
10.72 |
55Q / 50Mn |
22.3 |
| JIS 30A |
107.95 |
107.95 |
60.33 |
12.3 |
55Q / 50Mn |
30.1 |
| JIS 37A |
122.24 |
122.24 |
62.71 |
13.49 |
55Q / 50Mn |
37.2 |
| JIS 50N |
153 |
127 |
65 |
15 |
55Q / 50Mn |
50.4 |
JIS E 1103 Crane Rail
| Section |
Height (mm) |
Foot (mm) |
Head (mm) |
Web t (mm) |
Steel Grade |
Weight (kg/m) |
| CR73 |
135 |
140 |
100 |
32 |
U71Mn |
73.3 |
| CR100 |
150 |
155 |
120 |
39 |
U71Mn |
100.2 |
How to Choose the Right Rail Steel
Match the grade to the duty: Q235B and 55Q for light and industrial lines, U71Mn for heavy and crane rails, U75V for heavy-haul and high-speed mainlines, R260/R350HT for UIC/EN mainline projects and AREMA grades for North American freight. Confirm the section dimensions against the fastening system, and request mill certificates showing composition and mechanical test results for every delivery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are rails not made from stainless steel?
Stainless steel has much lower strength and wear resistance per unit cost than the carbon-manganese steels used for rails, and its corrosion resistance is not needed because rail heads are worn continuously by traffic. The high cost would make track construction uneconomical without improving performance.
What is the difference between U71Mn and U75V rail steel?
U71Mn is a carbon-manganese grade with a tensile strength of at least 880 MPa; U75V adds vanadium microalloying, raising tensile strength to at least 980 MPa with better fatigue resistance. U75V is preferred for high-speed and heavy-haul lines, U71Mn for general heavy rail and crane rails.
Are rails recycled at the end of their life?
Yes. Worn rails are routinely recycled as scrap steel, and used rails in good condition are often reused on lighter lines. The steel retains its value because it is a clean, high-quality carbon steel, which makes rail replacement part of a sustainable material loop.
Why do rail grades matter for welding?
Higher carbon and alloy content makes steel harder but more difficult to weld; welding heat can create hard, brittle zones. Rail grades are therefore paired with approved welding procedures, and heat-treated grades such as R350HT need controlled preheat and cooling during welding.
Can crane rail steel be used for railway rails?
Not directly. Crane rails have a wide flat head for low-speed, high-load crane wheels, while railway rails have a profiled head for wheel guidance at speed. The steel grades overlap (U71Mn is used for both), but the section geometry is different and the fastening systems are not interchangeable.
What documentation should come with rail steel?
A mill test certificate (MTC) with heat number, chemical composition, tensile and hardness results, plus dimensional inspection reports. For project-critical lines, third-party inspection and weld qualification documents should also be provided before shipment.
