Knowledge

🚉 What is a Steel Rail? A Key Component from Train Tracks to Industrial Transport 2025/03/27

From High-Speed Rail to Small Mine Carts, Steel Rails Silently Provide a Stable Foundation for Transport Systems
When thinking of "steel applications in daily life," most people might first think of building structures or car parts. But in reality, one of the most classic and representative applications of steel is the steel rail, also known as a "railway track" or "rail." Whether it's a high-speed train, a regular train, or a mining transport system, none can function without this seemingly simple yet structurally precise steel product.
 ➤ The Birth of the Steel Rail: From Cast Iron to High-Strength Steel
The history of steel rails dates back to the 18th century. The earliest tracks were made of cast iron, but because it was brittle and not durable, it was quickly replaced by wrought steel and carbon steel rails. In the 20th century, as smelting technology improved, countries began to establish national standards for steel rails, such as:
 ● Japan: JIS E1103
 ● Taiwan: CNS 1150 E1001
 ● USA: AREMA, Europe: EN standards, etc.
These specifications emphasize material purity, hardness, and dimensional tolerances to ensure railway safety and longevity.
 ➤ Steel Rail Structure and Weight Classification
Standard steel rails often have an "I-shape" or a "dedicated railway profile," divided into:
 ● Head: The contact surface for the train wheels; must be wear-resistant.
 ● Web: The middle connecting section; withstands vertical pressure and lateral shear forces.
 ● Base (or Foot): The widened bottom part; distributes the load and maintains stability.
[Image Alt Text] Cross-section diagram of a steel rail, labeling the three structural parts: Head, Web, and Base, for illustrating railway track construction.

 ➤ Common specifications are divided by weight as follows:
💡 點此查看／Click to view: Steel Rail Specifications (by Weight)
規格
Specification		 高度A (mm)
Height A (mm)		 底寬B
Base Width B		 軌頭寬C
Rail Head Width C		 軌腰厚t
Rail Web Thickness t		 單位重 (kg/m)
Unit Weight (kg/m)
6kg 鋼軌
6kg Steel Rail		 50.8 50.8 25.4 4.76 5.98
9kg 鋼軌
9kg Steel Rail		 63.5 63.5 32.1 5.9 8.94
12kg 鋼軌
12kg Steel Rail		 69.85 69.85 38.1 7.54 12.2
15kg 鋼軌
15kg Steel Rail		 79.37 79.37 42.86 8.33 15.2
22kg 鋼軌
22kg Steel Rail		 93.66 93.66 50.8 10.72 22.3

✅ Material Standards Basis: CNS 1150 E1001 / JIS E1103 (1974)
👉 Additionally, there are larger rails, such as 30kg, 37kg, 43kg, 50kg, 60kg, etc., which are common in high-speed rail, metro, and heavy-haul railway systems. These are typically used for public works and large-scale transportation facilities and are less common in general industrial transport.
 ➤ Diverse Applications, from Railways to Industry
Steel rails have a wide range of uses, not just in railway systems, but also commonly in:
✔ Train, high-speed rail, and metro track systems
✔ Low-speed transport tracks (e.g., in mines, brick factories)
✔ Automated slide rails in industrial plants
✔ Port crane tracks
✔ Amusement park trains and small tourist tracks
💡 Why Are Steel Rails So Important?
Because they must possess:
 ● High strength and high wear resistance
 ● Stable structure and dimensional consistency
 ● Fatigue resistance to bear long-term pressure
 ● Adaptability to climate and load changes
These conditions make steel rails a high-precision, high-demand specialty engineering steel among steel products.
📞 Contact Us
If you need Steel Rails, welcome to contact Guokai Steel!
📧 Email: sales@guokaisteel.com.tw
📩 Official Line Account: @guokai
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