What is the weight of rail track in KG?
Jan 19, 2026
Rail track is an essential component of rail track, and its function is to guide the train wheels moving forward by withstanding the enormous pressure pushed by the wheels. Steel rail shall provide smooth, stable and continuous rolling surface for the passing train wheels. In electrical railway or automatic block section, railway track can also be used as track circuit.
What is the weight of rail track in KG?
A rail track refers to the steel rails installed as part of the railway or industrial track structure, and the weight of a rail track is usually expressed as kilograms per meter (kg/m), which indicates how much one meter of rail weighs. This parameter directly reflects the rail's load-bearing capacity, stiffness, and suitability for different traffic conditions. In practice, rail weight can range from about 8 kg/m for very light industrial rails to more than 75 kg/m for heavy-haul mainline railways and crane systems.
GNEE RAIL supplies rail tracks in multiple weight classes under GB, UIC, EN, AREMA, DIN, JIS, and other international standards, covering light rail, heavy rail, and crane rail for railway, mining, metro, port, and industrial applications.
| 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 Are the Common Weights of Railway Rails?
Railway rails for passenger and freight lines are generally classified as heavy rails, and their weights depend on axle load, train speed, and traffic density.
Typical Railway Rail Weights (International Standards)
| Standard | Rail Type | Weight (kg/m) | Typical Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| UIC 860 | UIC54 | 54.43 | Conventional mainline |
| UIC 860 | UIC60 | 60.21 | High-speed & heavy haul |
| EN 13674-1 | 60E1 | 60.21 | European mainlines |
| AREMA | 115RE | 56.9 | Freight railways |
| AREMA | 136RE | 67.4 | Heavy-haul railways |
| JIS E 1101 | 50N | 50.4 | Metro & suburban |
| JIS E 1101 | 60 | 60.8 | Mainline railways |
| GB 2585 | 50kg rail | 51.51 | Passenger & freight |
| GB 2585 | 60kg rail | 60.64 | Heavy traffic lines |
Heavier rails are selected when axle loads exceed 25–30 tons, or when long-term fatigue resistance and reduced maintenance are required.
How Do You Choose the Right Rail Weight?
Selecting rail weight is a technical decision based on mechanical loading and operating conditions rather than cost alone. Key factors include:
- Axle or wheel load of vehicles or cranes
- Traffic frequency and fatigue requirements
- Track structure (ballast, concrete slab, embedded rail)
- Environmental conditions such as corrosion and temperature
- Maintenance capability and lifecycle cost
In general:
- Light industrial transport → 8–30 kg/m rails
- Metro and conventional railways → 50–60 kg/m rails
- Heavy-haul freight → 60–75 kg/m rails
- Crane systems → 52–120 kg/m crane rails
GNEE RAIL provides technical support to help customers match rail weight, steel grade, fastening system, and installation method to actual service conditions, ensuring long-term safety and cost efficiency.
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.
