What Is A Railway Plate
Sep 15, 2025
Railroad plates is also refered to as tie plate, base plate, or sole plate. It is an important part in rail fastening system. A railroad plate is placed between the railroad track and the railroad tie. They are usually made of steel by rolling, forging or casting and fit for various rail section such as UIC60, UIC54, RN45, 90A, etc..
Function of railway base plate
The railway base plate is used to fasten the rails to the railway sleeper together with railway spikes. It can support the steel rails to avoid movement, and protect the railroad tie from excessive wear.
- Reduce noise and vibration
The base plate can effectively isolate the noise and vibration generated by train running and improve passenger comfort.
- Protect rails
The base plate can disperse wheel weight, reduce wear and damage to the track, and thus extend the service life of the track.
- Provide stability
The base plate is fixed to the railroad tie by anchor bolts, providing a stable support platform for the entire fastener system. It supports the rails and other components to ensure the stability and safety of the track structure.
- Transfer load
It can evenly transfer the pressure from the rails to the elastic cushion and then to the ballastless track bed, which helps to disperse the load and reduce the impact and damage to the track structure.
- Keep precise position
The structural design helps maintain the position accuracy of the spring clip, ensures that the fastener system can correctly buckle the rail, prevents the rail from deflecting or moving, and ensures the geometric dimensions and line quality of the track.
- Adjustment function
Some types of tie plates have adjustment functions to achieve infinite adjustment of track gauge to meet the laying requirements under different line conditions.
Popular railway base plate specification
| Type | Dimension | Holes | Incline | Rail | Rail |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rph 1/160 | 345/285/127/160×15/13 | Ø 26 (4x) | 1:40 | S 49/S 54 | 7,86 |
| Rp 01/01/160 | 345/285/127/160×15/13 | Ø 26 (4x) | 1:40 | S 49/S 54 | 7,70 |
| Rph 1/210 | 345/285/127x210x15/13 | Ø 26 (4x) | 1:40 | S 49/S 54 | 10,55 |
| Rph 1/210 | 345/285/127x210x15/13 | Ø 36,3 (2x) | 1:40 | S 49/S 54 | 10,55 |
| Rph 1/210 FVZ | 345/285/127x210x15/13 | Ø 26 (4x) | 1:40 | S 49/S 54 | 10,69 |
| Sph 1(a) | 345/350/127x410x15/13 | Ø 26 (8x) | 1:40 | UIC 60 | 20,60 |
| Rph 6/160 | 370/310/152x160x15/13 | Ø 26 (4x) | 1:40 | UIC 60 | 8,44 |
| Rph 6/210 | 370/310/152x210x15/13 | Ø 26 (4x) | 1:40 | UIC 60 | 11,32 |
| SZ 60 | 370/350/152x420x15/13 | Ø 26 (8x) | 1:40 | UIC 60 | 22,73 |
| Rph 11 Ü | 664/554×160 | Ø 26 (4x) | 1:40 | S 54 | 15,37 |
| Rph 13 Ü | 690/570×160 | Ø 26 (4x) | 1:40 | UIC 60 | 15,27 |
| Rpo 5 | 345/285/127x160x15/13 | Ø 26 (4x) | 1:20 | S 49/S54 | 8 |
Main Types of sole plates in railway
Single shoulder sole plate
- Design
A single shoulder sole plate is designed with only one raised "shoulder" on one side of the plate to grasp the base of the rail by its edge. The other end with no "shoulder" is flat with holes for bolts or spikes to fix rails.
- Application scenario
The single shoulder tie plate is especially suitable for light rail, industrial rail, and temporary rail.
- Advantages
A single sole plate provides flexibility when laying a wide gauge track or a narrow gauge track.
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Double shoulder sole plate
- Design
A double shoulder sole plate is designed with two raised "shoulders" at both sides to better fix railroad rails.
- Application scenario
The double shoulder sole plate is usually used on heavy-haul railways, high-speed railways, and main railway lines.
- Advantages
The double shoulder sole plate offers higher holding force compared to the single shoulder sole plate. It is suitable for a variety of rail types, including UIC60 rail and UIC54 rail
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Hook twin sole plate
- Design
The pad has hook-shaped protrusions on both sides, which can tightly buckle the bottom edge of the rail to enhance the fixing force. The hook-shaped structure can adapt to slight deformation of the rail and provide better seismic resistance.
- Application scenario
Railway turnout: Hook twin tie plate is commonly used in railway turnout areas to help fix two forked rails.
Double track system: Hook twin tie plate is applied to special track structures such as port railways and factory internal tracks to support the operation of guide rails or multiple tracks.
Bridge or high-load scenarios: In bridges or other scenarios with extremely high track gauge requirements, the hook structure can enhance the safety of the track.
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Advantages
High stability: The hook design enhances the tight connection between the rail and the pad, effectively preventing lateral displacement.
Save space and materials: The double-track design reduces the number of pads used and improves installation efficiency.
Versatility: hook twin tie plates are suitable for adjustment of different track gauges and track structures.
Versatility: hook twin tie plates are suitable for adjustment of different track gauges and track structures.
Specification of hook twin tie plate
| Commodity | Mark | Length | Height | Weight (lbs/pcs) | Weight (kgs/pcs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hook Twin Tie Plates | L23 | 23" | 9/16" | 18.8 | 8.535 |
| L27 | 27" | 9/16" | 22.2 | 10.079 | |
| L31 | 31" | 9/16" | 25.6 | 11.622 | |
| H23 | 23" | 15/16" | 19.1 | 8.671 | |
| H27 | 27" | 15/16" | 22.5 | 10.215 | |
| H31 | 31" | 15/16" | 25.9 | 11.759 | |
| LR23 | 23" | 9/16" | 18.8 | 8.535 | |
| LR27 | 27" | 9/16" | 22.2 | 10.078 | |
| LR31 | 31" | 9/16" | 25.6 | 11.622 |
