What is GB/T Standard Steel Rail?
Jan 19, 2026
The steel rail is the main component of the train tracks. It directly bears the repeated impact loads of the wheels of the rolling stock. It is also the basis for ensuring the safe, stable, and fast transportation of the train.
As a professional rail fastener supplier, GNEE RAILWAY RAILWAY 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.
What is GB/T Standard Steel Rail?
GB/T Standard steel rail refers to railway rails manufactured in accordance with China's national recommended standards (Guóbiāo/Tuījiàn), such as GB/T 2585 (heavy rail), GB/T 11264 (light rail), and GB/T 1185 / YB/T 5055 (crane 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 | |
These standards define the rail profile geometry, weight per meter, dimensional tolerances, steel grades, mechanical properties, and inspection methods, ensuring that rails can safely carry designed axle loads and remain interchangeable within track systems. Compared with proprietary or local specifications, GB/T rails are widely accepted in international industrial railways, mining transport, metro depots, ports, and heavy-haul corridors, especially in projects that require stable supply and cost-effective performance.
What Steel Grades Are Used in GB/T Standard Rails?
GB/T rails are produced from carbon–manganese pearlitic rail steels, with different grades selected according to required strength and wear resistance.
| Steel Grade | Typical Rail Type | Tensile Strength (MPa) | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q235B | Light rail | ≥375 | Good weldability, economical |
| 55Q | Light & medium rail | ≥690 | Higher wear resistance |
| U71Mn | Heavy rail & crane rail | ≥880 | Excellent fatigue performance |
| U75V | Heavy-haul rail | ≥980 | Vanadium microalloyed, long life |
Carbon increases hardness and wear resistance, while manganese improves toughness and crack resistance under cyclic wheel loads. For demanding curves and heavy-haul lines, GB/T standards also allow heat-treated rail heads to further improve rolling contact fatigue performance.
Q235B:
| Q235B | Mechanical property | Chemical composition(%) | |||||||||
| Yield strength | Tensile strength | Elongation | Hardness | C | Si | Mn | S | P | |||
| MPa | kg/mm² | MPa | kg/mm² | min | HB | ≤ | ≤ | ≤ | |||
| ≥ | ≥ | ||||||||||
| 235 | 24 | 375-460 | 38-47 | 26% | 0.12-0.22 | 0.35 | 0.30-0.70 | 0.045 | 0.045 | ||
55Q：
| 55Q | Mechanical property | Chemical composition(%) | |||||||||
| Yield strength | Tensile strength | Elongation | Hardness | C | Si | Mn | S | P | |||
| MPa | kg/mm² | MPa | kg/mm² | min | HBW | ≤ | ≤ | ||||
| ≥ | ≥ | ≥ | ≥ | ≥ | |||||||
| 685 | 69 | 197 | 0.50-0.60 | 0.15-0.35 | 0.60-0.90 | 0.04 | 0.04 | ||||
U71Mn and U75V:
| Steel Grade | C(%) | Si | Mn | Cr | V | P | S | Tensile Strength (Rm/MPa) |
| U71Mn | 0.65~0.76 | 0.15~0.58 | 0.70~1.40 | – | – | ≤0.035 | ≤0.030 | ≥880 |
| U75V | 0.71~0.80 | 0.50~0.80 | 0.75~1.05 | – | 0.04~0.12 | ≤0.035 | ≤0.030 | ≥980 |
How Do GB/T Rails Compare with Other International Standards?
Although each country has its own standard system, many rail sections and mechanical properties are technically comparable, allowing project designers to select equivalent products when necessary.
| Standard | Example Profile | Weight (kg/m) | Typical Steel Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB/T | 60kg | 60.64 | U71Mn |
| EN (UIC) | UIC60 | 60.21 | R260 / R350HT |
| JIS | 60kg | 60.8 | E260 / E350 |
| AREMA | 60RE | 60.0 | SS / HH |
While profiles are not always interchangeable due to base width and fastening geometry, performance levels are broadly aligned. In export projects, GNEE RAILWAY RAILWAY assists clients in selecting equivalent profiles and compatible fastening systems to ensure installation feasibility and long-term stability.
As a professional rail fastener supplier, GNEE RAILWAY RAILWAY 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.
