What kind of steel are railroad rails made of?
Jan 21, 2026
What is Steel Rail?
Steel rails, also known as railroad rails or crane rails, are the primary components of track systems. They are designed to guide rolling stock wheels, withstand enormous vertical and lateral loads, and transmit these forces to sleepers or rail ties. Structurally, steel rails have an optimized I-shaped cross-section consisting of the rail head (contact surface), rail web (vertical support), and rail base (stabilizing flange), ensuring high bending resistance and durability.
What kind of steel are railroad rails made of?
The performance and longevity of railroad rails depend heavily on the steel grade used in manufacturing. Rails must endure high dynamic loads, resist wear and fatigue, and maintain structural integrity under extreme operating conditions.
At GNEE RAIL, we utilize premium high-carbon and alloy steels, such as U71Mn, U75V, 50Mn, 55Q, R260, R350HT, 900A, to meet both Chinese (GB) and international standards (UIC, AREMA, DIN, JIS, BS). Each steel grade is selected for its mechanical properties, including tensile strength, yield strength, elongation, and hardness.
Common Rail Steel Grades Worldwide:
| Grade | Standard / Region | Typical Composition (wt%) |
| R260 | EN 13674-1 (Europe) | C: 0.67–0.80, Mn: 0.90–1.20, Si: ≤0.50 |
| R350HT | EN 13674-1 (Europe) | C: 0.75–0.85, Mn: 0.80–1.20, Cr: 0.20–0.50 |
| Grade 260 | AREMA (North America) | C: ~0.77, Mn: ~1.0–1.2, Si: ~0.2 |
| Grade 350 | AREMA + Mill Specs (USA/Canada) | C: 0.78–0.83, Mn: 0.90–1.20, Cr: 0.2–0.6, + V/Nb (microalloyed) |
| BH Rail (Bainitic) | JIS E 1101 (Japan), adopted in EU/India | C: 0.65–0.80, Mn: 1.0–1.4, Cr/Mo/Ni (optional, mill-specific) |
| U71Mn | GB/T 2585 (China) | C: 0.65–0.77, Mn: 1.10–1.40, Si: 0.15–0.35 |
| U75V | GB/T 2585 (China) | C: 0.67–0.77, Mn: 0.70–1.00, V: 0.04–0.12 |
How Are Different Rail Steels Used in Applications?
The choice of steel grade directly affects the application of rails. For instance, U71Mn rails are commonly used in heavy railways and crane runways, providing excellent wear resistance and structural stability for frequent heavy loads. U75V rails are suitable for high-speed and heavy-haul lines requiring extra toughness. 50Mn and 55Q steels are ideal for light and mining rails where cost efficiency and moderate strength are priorities. R260 and R350HT are European UIC-standard steels used in high-speed and freight lines, offering high fatigue resistance and service life.
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 | |
DIN536 Crane Rail
| Type of Rail | Standard | Dimensions mm | Steel Grade | Mass M | |||
| A | F | C | t | kg/m | |||
| A45 | DIN 536 P1:1991 | 55,00 | 125,00 | 45,00 | 24,00 | 50Mn | 22,10 |
| A55 | DIN 536 P1:1991 | 65,00 | 150,00 | 55,00 | 31,00 | 50Mn | 31,80 |
| A65 | DIN 536 P1:1991 | 75,00 | 175,00 | 65,00 | 38,00 | 50Mn | 43,10 |
| A75 | DIN 536 P1:1991 | 85,00 | 200,00 | 75,00 | 45,00 | U71Mn | 56,20 |
| A100 | DIN 536 P1:1991 | 95,00 | 200,00 | 100,00 | 60,00 | U71Mn | 74,30 |
| A120 | DIN 536 P1:1991 | 105,00 | 220,00 | 120,00 | 72,00 | U71Mn | 100,00 |
| A150 | DIN 536 P1:1991 | 150,00 | 220,00 | 150,00 | 80,00 | U71Mn | 150,30 |
ASTM A1 Rail
| Size | Rail height(mm) | Bottom Width(mm) | Head Width(mm) | Web Thickness(mm) | Steel Grade | Weight(kg/m) |
| A | F | C | t | |||
| ASCE25 | 69.85 | 69.85 | 38.1 | 7.54 | 55Q | 12.2 |
| ASCE30 | 79.37 | 79.37 | 42.86 | 8.33 | 55Q | 15.2 |
| ASCE40 | 88.9 | 88.9 | 47.6 | 9.9 | 55Q | 19.84 |
| ASCE50 | 98.43 | 98.43 | 54 | 11.11 | 55Q | 24.855 |
| ASCE60 | 107.95 | 107.95 | 60.33 | 12.3 | 55Q | 30.1 |
| ASCE70 | 117.48 | 117.48 | 61.91 | 13.1 | 55Q | 34.5 |
| ASCE80 | 127 | 127 | 63.5 | 13.89 | U71Mn | 39.82 |
| ASCE85 | 131.76 | 131.76 | 65.09 | 14.29 | U71Mn | 42.3 |
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.
