What is the composition of rail metal?
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.
The earliest railway track material is iron. People manufacture steel rails in 1857. Compared to iron, steel is a stronger and harder material, it lasts longer, and can be made into longer track rails. At the same time, the shape of the train tracks has also been developed many times. Finally, the I-shaped steel rail has become the best solution at present. According to the purpose of railway transportation, there will be some differences in the specifications and materials of the train tracks.
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.
| Standard | Sepc. | Material Typical Grade |
| UIC860 | UIC54 | 700,900A,900B |
| UIC60 | ||
| EN13674.1 | 5.00E+02 | R200,R350HT,R260Mn,R35LHT,R320Cr,R370CrHT |
| 5.40E+02 | ||
| 6.00E+02 | ||
| 6.00E+03 | ||
| BS-11-1985 | BS80A | 700,900A,900B |
| BS90A | ||
| BS100A | ||
| AREMA | 115RE | SS,HH,LA,IH |
| 136RE | ||
| ASCE60 | U71Mn | |
| ASCE85 | U71Mn | |
| GB 2585-2007 | 50kg/m | U71Mn |
| 60kg/m | U75V | |
| 75kg/m | ||
| TB/T2344-2012 | 50kg/m | U71Mn,U75V,U77MnCr |
| 60kg/m | U78CrV | |
| 75kg/m | ||
| GB 11264-1989 | 8kg/m | Q235 |
| 12kg/m | Q235 | |
| 15kg/m | 55Q, Q235 | |
| 18kg/m | 55Q, Q235 | |
| 22kg/m | 55Q, Q235 | |
| 24kg/m | 55Q, Q235 | |
| 30kg/m | 55Q, Q235 | |
| 38kg/m | 50Mn, U71Mn | |
| 43kg/m | 50Mn, U71Mn | |
| GB Crane rails | QU70 | U71Mn |
| QU80 | U71Mn | |
| QU100 | U71Mn | |
| QU120 | U71Mn |
What is the composition of rail metal?
Rail metal refers to the high-carbon, carbon–manganese steel used to manufacture railway rails. Unlike ordinary structural steel, rail steel is specifically engineered to withstand very high contact stress, repeated dynamic loading, and severe wear from steel wheels. Its composition is tightly controlled to achieve an optimal balance between hardness, strength, and fracture toughness, ensuring long service life and operational safety on railway and industrial tracks.
Most railway rails are made from pearlitic carbon–manganese steel. Carbon provides hardness and wear resistance, while manganese improves strength and reduces brittleness. Small additions of silicon, chromium, or vanadium may be used in premium grades to improve fatigue resistance and head hardness.
Typical Chemical Composition of Common Rail Steels
| Steel Grade | Standard System | C (%) | Mn (%) | Si (%) | Cr (%) | V (%) | Typical Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U71Mn | GB | 0.65–0.76 | 1.10–1.40 | 0.15–0.58 | - | - | Mainline railway, metro |
| U75V | GB | 0.71–0.80 | 0.70–1.05 | 0.50–0.80 | - | 0.04–0.12 | High-speed, heavy-haul |
| R260 | EN / UIC | 0.60–0.82 | 0.65–1.25 | 0.13–0.60 | ≤0.15 | - | Conventional mainline rail |
| R350HT | EN / UIC | 0.70–0.82 | 0.60–1.25 | 0.13–0.60 | ≤0.15 | - | High-speed, curves, heavy load |
| 55Q | GB (light rail) | 0.50–0.60 | 0.60–0.90 | 0.15–0.35 | - | - | Industrial & mining lines |
| Q235 | GB (light rail) | 0.12–0.20 | 0.30–0.70 | ≤0.30 | - | - | Temporary or light-duty tracks |
Does Rail Metal Differ for Light Rail, Heavy Rail, and Crane Rail?
Yes. While most railway rails use pearlitic carbon–manganese steel, industrial and crane rails may use different compositions depending on load characteristics.
Comparison of Rail Metal by Application
| Rail Type | Typical Standard | Steel Material | Key Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light Rail (Mining/Industrial) | GB 18kg–30kg, JIS 22kg | Q235, 55Q | Impact resistance, easy installation |
| Heavy Railway Rail | UIC60, 60E1, 50kg | U71Mn, R260, R350HT | High fatigue and wear resistance |
| Crane Rail | DIN 536 A75–A150, GB QU70–QU120 | 900A, U71Mn | High compressive and lateral strength |
Crane rails focus more on vertical wheel pressure and side thrust, while railway rails emphasize fatigue resistance and rolling wear.
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.
