What is a rail track called?
Jan 15, 2026
What is a rail track called?
In railway engineering and transportation planning, a rail track is most commonly called "railway track" or simply "track." However, depending on technical context, design structure, and application, several other formal terms are also used.
A rail track refers to the complete system that supports and guides trains, not only the steel rails themselves. It includes rails, sleepers (ties), fastening systems, and the supporting foundation.
The most widely accepted technical term is:
Railway Track – the complete permanent way for train operation
Track – abbreviated engineering term used in drawings and specifications
Permanent Way (P-Way) – traditional civil engineering term, especially in British and Commonwealth systems, referring to the fixed infrastructure of the railway
What is the role of steel rail in rail track?
The role of steel rails in a railway track is to provide a smooth, stable, and continuous surface for train wheels, guide the train's direction, and transfer immense vertical and lateral loads to the sleepers, ensuring safe and efficient movement while also acting as a conductor for signaling systems. Made of high-strength steel, rails form the backbone of the track, supporting the train's weight and facilitating the wheel-rail interaction.
- Load Bearing & Distribution: Rails bear the heavy weight of the train and distribute it as pressure to the sleepers (ties) and ballast, preventing the track from sinking.
- Guidance & Stability: They provide lateral guidance, keeping the wheels on the correct path and ensuring directional control.
- Smooth Rolling Surface: Rails offer a continuous, low-resistance surface for wheels, allowing for smooth, efficient, and fast movement.
- Structural Foundation: They form the primary structural element of the track, secured by fastenings to sleepers, creating a durable system.
- Signaling Conductor: Rails conduct electrical signals for track circuits, which detect train presence, location, and movement, vital for safety.
Types of Steel Track Rail
As a professional rail fastener supplier, GNEE RAIL can provide different standard steel rail such as American, BS, UIC, DIN, JIS, Australian and South Africa which used in railway lines, cranes and coal mining.
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, ASCE rail, AREMA rail
- Size: ASCE25, ASCE30, ASCE40, ASCE60, ASCE75, ASCE85, ASCE90, ASCE115, ASCE136, ASCE175
- Standard: ASTM standard, AREMA standard
- Material: 700/900A/1100
- Length: 6-12m, 12-25m
JIS E 1103/1101 standard steel rail
- Size: 15kg, 22kg, 30A, 37A, and 50N, CR73, CR100
- Standard: JIS E1103-93/JIS E1101-93
- Material: According to JIS e standard
- Length: 9-10m
UIC860-O standard steel rail/UIC54 steel rail/railway for UIC54
- Size: UIC54, UIC60
- Standard: UIC860-o standard/EN-13674-1
- Material: 900A/1100
- Length: 12-25m
How to choose a steel rail with the appropriate standard?
To choose the right steel rail standard, assess your project's traffic (speed, tonnage, axle load), environment, and budget, then match these to specific standards (AREMA, EN, UIC), considering rail weight (kg/m), profile (e.g., 60E1), and grade (e.g., R350HT for heavy-haul, R260 for standard), ensuring compatibility with existing infrastructure and local regulations for safety and performance.
Key Factors to Consider
- Traffic & Load: High-speed (≥250km/h) or heavy-haul (≥25t axle load) needs stronger rails like EN 60E1/R350HT; light loads can use lighter rails (e.g., 30kg/m).
- Speed: Higher speeds demand smoother, stronger rails for better ride quality and fatigue resistance, often head-hardened.
- Environment: Coastal areas need corrosion-resistant rails; harsh climates might favor carbon steel over some high-strength alloys.
- Application: Mainlines (R260, R350HT), urban transit (49E1/R260, grooved rails), mining (R370CrHT) have distinct needs.
- Standards: Align with recognized norms like EN (European), AREMA (North American), UIC (International), or GB (Chinese).
Since 2008, GNEE RAIL has been supplying steel rails of different grades for more than 18 years, steel rails from GNEE is highly recommened in China and abroad.Wtih cutting edge equipment, GNEE produces high quality steel rails that meet with requirements of most countries. Standard rail, head hardened rail, heavy rail,light rail,crane rail and other types are all available here, as one of the China main rail supplier, GNEE RAIL has been working on supplying economical green railway products all over the world.
