What is the difference between Crane Rail Pads and Track Rail Pads?
Nov 25, 2025
What is the difference between Crane Rail Pads and Track Rail Pads?
Crane rail pads are installed between a crane's rail and the steel support structure to absorb shock and vibration from heavy, moving cranes, while track rail pads are placed between a train's rail and the sleeper to distribute the load of passing trains and protect the components. The primary difference lies in their application, as crane pads are designed for the impact of a point load from a single crane, and track pads are for the distributed and high-speed load of a train.
| Feature | Crane Rail Pads | Track Rail Pads |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Between the crane rail and the steel sole plate or supporting structure | Between the rail and the sleeper (or tie) |
| Primary Function | Absorb shock and vibration from the crane's heavy, focused load | Distribute the load of trains over a wider area and absorb shock |
| Application | Factories, docks, and warehouses for supporting crane movement | Public and freight transportation systems for guiding trains |
| Load Type | High, dynamic loads from a single moving crane | Distributed, high-speed loads from a train |
| Purpose | Reduce wear, corrosion, and noise, and extend the life of the crane and track | Protect the sleeper from damage and reduce noise and vibration from trains |
Railway Pad Material
| EVA: Polyethylene 80%, Vinyl Acetate 20%. | |||
| Technical Parameter | Unit | Technical Requirement | Value |
| Density | g/cm3 | 0.95-0.98 | 0.95 |
| Tensile Strength | Mpa | ≥15 | 16 |
| Elongation | % | >500 | 550 |
| Melting Point | ℃ | 170-190 | 170 |
| Insulation Resistance | Ω | ≥1×1010 | 5.0 ×1010 |
| Hardness | A | ≥90 | 92(A) |
| Rubber Rail Pad | ||
| Technical Parameter | Unit | Value |
| Stiffness | KN | 90-130 |
| Hardness Shore A | ℃ | 72-80 degree |
| Electronic Resistance | Ω | ≥ 106 |
| Tensile Strength before Aging | Mpa | ≥12.5 |
| Elongation before Aging | % | ≥250 |
| HDPE Rail Pad | |||
| Technical Parameter | Unit | Technical Requirement | Value |
| Density | g/cm3 | 0.95-0.98 | 0.95 |
| Tensile Strength | Mpa | ≥19 | 19 |
| Elongation | % | >80 | 150 |
| Melting Point | ℃ | 170-190 | 190 |
| Insulation Resistance | Ω | ≥1×1010 | 3.5 ×1010 |
| Hardness | A | ≥98 | 98(A) |
Rail pads Functions
Rail pads plays 2 main parts in railway system. It can diminish shock and impact on steel rail, as well as reduce resonant vibration aroused from the concrete sleepers (lowest resonant frequency about 200Hz), and absorb the vibration deviation (about 0.12mm amplitude, 1000Hz) of the track part between sleepers. What's more, rail pads can prevent abrasion and crushing of the sleeper under the foot of the track.
The rubber rail pads are usually designed to have a specific load-deflection characteristic. The initial stiffness of the pads is designed to be very low, making their deformation under the spring toe load quite large. This ensures that despite any vertical movement of the rail, the pad is still in close contact with it. When the wheel is above the pad, the stiffness of the track must be high to prevent large movement, resulting in loose metal spring washers. This load deflection characteristic can be obtained by introducing grooves in the rubber pad.
As a professional rubber rail pad manufacturer GNEE RAIL can produce various standards of rubber rail pads and other rail fasteners. If you want to build a railway line, do not hesitate to contact us, we can supply all types of rubber rail pads with different materials. If necessary, we can make customized rubber rail pad production.
