Rail Joint

A rail joint (also known as a fishplate or splice bar) is a metal fastener used to connect the ends of two steel rails together in a railway track. It ensures structural continuity, maintains proper alignment, and allows for thermal expansion/contraction while distributing heavy loads to ensure safe train passage.

GNEE RAILWAY RAILWAY manufacture structurally precise rail joints (also known as fishplates or splice bars) to connect rail ends securely and maintain track alignment. From standard continuous welded rail (CWR) maintenance to complex signaling track circuits, we supply dimensionally accurate joint solutions tailored to specific rail profiles.

• Core Products: Standard Rail Joints, Compromise Joints, Glued Insulated Joints, Joggled Fishplates.

• Matching Rails: UIC 54, UIC 60, 115 RE, 136 RE, BS, JIS.

• Material Grades: Medium Carbon Steel, Micro-alloyed Steel,etc.

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Rail joints are structural components used to connect rail ends, ensuring track alignment and enabling thermal expansion. Main types include supported (rests on one sleeper), suspended (rests between two sleepers), bridge (secured by metal plates), insulated (for signaling), and compromise joints (connecting different rail sections).

Key Types of Rail Joints:

• Suspended Joint: The most common type, where rail ends are suspended between two sleepers.

• Supported Joint: Rail ends rest on a single, dedicated "joint sleeper," reducing cantilever action.

• Bridge Joint: A type of suspended joint where a metal bridge plate connects sleepers to provide extra support.

• Insulated Rail Joint: Used in electrified or track-circuited areas to prevent electrical currents from passing between rail sections, including bonded (glued) and ordinary types.

• Compromise Joint: Used to connect two different rail sections (e.g., 60kg/m to 50kg/m) using specially designed fishplates.

• Staggered vs. Square Joints: Staggered joints are placed opposite the center of the rail on the other side (used on curves), while square joints are aligned across from each other (used on straight tracks).

• Welded Joints: A modern alternative to fishplated joints, offering superior strength and a smoother ride.

Rail fish plates are high-strength steel joints, typically 600mm–1000mm long, used to connect rail ends, featuring 4–6 precision-drilled bolt holes for fastening. Manufactured from durable carbon steel (e.g., Q235, Q275) to meet strict tensile (≥620 MPa) and yield (≥320 MPa) strength standards, they ensure structural integrity, alignment, and electrical insulation in railway tracks.

A railway joint (or fishplate) functions as a fastening by securely connecting two rail ends, maintaining horizontal and vertical alignment, and ensuring continuity of the track. It uses fish bolts through joint bars to clamp rail webs, preventing lateral/vertical movement while allowing longitudinal expansion and contraction.

Key Functions of Railway Joints as Fastening:

• Structural Connection: Fishplates (joint bars) clamp on both sides of the rail ends, held together by fish bolts to hold rail ends in the correct position.

• Alignment Maintenance: They prevent vertical or horizontal misalignment between two rail ends, ensuring a smooth surface for train wheels.

• Allowing Expansion/Contraction: They permit rails to expand or contract with temperature changes, crucial for structural integrity.

• Load Distribution: By joining two rails, the system helps distribute the heavy impact loads of passing trains across the rail joint.

• Supporting Components: Specialized hardware, such as insulated joints, can prevent electrical conductivity while maintaining structural fastening in signaling areas.

Fish bolts, often used in conjunction with spring washers, provide necessary clamping force to ensure the joint does not loosen due to vibration.

Q1: How do you ensure the bolt holes on the rail joint perfectly match our existing rails?

A: We utilize CNC multi-spindle drilling machines rather than traditional punching. This guarantees that the hole center distance and elevation tolerances are controlled within 0.5mm, ensuring a seamless fit without forcing the bolts.

Q2: Can you manufacture compromise joints to connect UIC 60 and UIC 54 rails?

A: Yes, we regularly design and forge compromise splice bars for various rail transitions. We calculate the exact gauge-side and top-surface alignments so that the train wheels transition smoothly without heavy impact.

Q3: Track signaling is critical. What is the electrical resistance of your insulated rail joints?

A: Our glued insulated rail joints utilize aerospace-grade epoxy resin and fiberglass end-posts. After assembly and curing, each joint is tested to ensure an electrical insulation resistance exceeding 10 Megaohms in dry conditions.

Q4: Rail joints are prone to cracking around the bolt holes. How do you prevent this?

A: Micro-cracks usually start from sharp edges. We chamfer the edges of all drilled holes to eliminate stress concentrations and conduct 100% ultrasonic flaw detection to ensure no internal defects exist before shipping.

Q5: Do you supply the matching track bolts and washers along with the rail joints?

A: Yes, we supply complete rail joint assemblies. This includes the fishplates, high-strength track bolts (e.g., Grade 8.8 or 10.9), heavy-duty spring washers, and nuts, ensuring you receive a ready-to-install kit.

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GNEE RAILWAY RAILWAY's splice bars are made from traceable 45# or 50Mn steel, undergoing mandatory ultrasonic flaw detection and hardness testing to prevent in-service fracturing. We guarantee precise hole spacing via CNC drilling to ensure a flush fit with your rail profile. Submit your rail section details (e.g., UIC 60, 136 RE) or custom compromise joint drawings. Our technical team will provide an itemized engineering quote within 12 hours.

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