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Railroad Rail - ASTM Standard Mill Direct Steel Manufacturer
China
Supplier's customization ability
- Drawing-based customization
- Sample-based customization
- Full customization
Minimum order quantity: 1 ton
Shipping total: To be negotiated
- Lead time:
- confirmed with the quotation
- Packaging:
- standard export packing
- Samples:
- available on request
Product details
Technical Specifications of Railroad Rail
| Property | Parameter | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Product Name | Railroad Rail | Hot-rolled steel rail for railway track construction |
| Material Grade | U71Mn / 900A / R260 | Equivalent grades: AREMA 136RE, EN 13674 R260, GB 2585 U71Mn |
| Standard Compliance | AREMA / EN 13674 / GB 2585 / UIC 860 | International railway rail manufacturing standards |
| Carbon (C) | 0.71% - 0.82% | Primary hardening element for rail head wear resistance |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.70% - 1.20% | Enhances strength and toughness of rail steel |
| Silicon (Si) | 0.15% - 0.58% | Deoxidizer improving rail steel quality |
| Phosphorus (P) | ≤ 0.030% | Controlled to prevent cold brittleness |
| Sulfur (S) | ≤ 0.030% | Controlled to prevent hot shortness |
| Tensile Strength | ≥ 880 MPa | Per EN 13674-1 for R260 grade rail steel |
| Yield Strength | ≥ 460 MPa | Minimum value ensuring structural load-bearing capacity |
| Elongation | ≥ 10% | Measured on gauge length of 5.65√So per standard |
| Rail Profile | Light: 8 - 30 kg/m; Heavy: 38 - 75 kg/m | Common types: 43 kg/m, 50 kg/m, 60 kg/m, 75 kg/m (136RE) |
| Rail Length | 12.5 m / 25 m / 50 m / 100 m | Standard and welded long rail available per project requirement |
| Surface Finish | Hot-rolled / Head-hardened | Head-hardened rails offer superior wear and fatigue resistance |
| Application | Mainline railway, metro, crane runway, mining | Suitable for heavy-haul, high-speed, and industrial rail systems |
| Certification | ISO 9001 / CE / SGS / BV | Third-party inspection and mill test certificate provided |
| Packaging | Bundled with steel strips, seaworthy packing | Rust-preventive oil coating and end caps upon request |
| MOQ | 30 Metric Tons | Smaller quantities negotiable for trial orders |
Railroad Rail - ASTM Standard Mill Direct Steel Manufacturer
Railroad rail serves as the foundational structural component of modern railway systems, bearing the full weight and dynamic forces of rolling stock across millions of load cycles. Engineered from high-carbon and alloy steel, these precision-rolled profiles must deliver exceptional wear resistance, fatigue strength, and dimensional consistency to ensure safe, efficient rail transport. Whether you are constructing new mainline track, upgrading heavy-haul corridors, or sourcing crane rail for industrial applications, selecting the right rail profile from a reliable mill-direct manufacturer is critical. Our facility produces a comprehensive range of railroad rail sections compliant with ASTM, AREMA, UIC, and GB standards, delivering premium-grade product at cost-effective mill-direct rates with full traceability and certification.
What Is Railroad Rail?
Railroad rail is a hot-rolled steel profile with a distinctive cross-section comprising a head, web, and base (foot). The head provides the running surface for wheel contact, the web transfers vertical and lateral loads, and the wide base distributes forces into ties and ballast. Rail steel typically contains 0.72%–0.82% carbon along with manganese (0.80%–1.30%) and silicon (0.10%–0.60%), producing a pearlitic microstructure that balances hardness, tensile strength, and ductility. Common profiles include AREMA 115 RE, 132 RE, 136 RE, and 141 RE for North American mainline service, as well as UIC 54 (54.77 kg/m) and UIC 60 (60.34 kg/m) for international applications.
Railroad Rail Technical Specifications
Our railroad rail products are manufactured to meet or exceed the following technical parameters, ensuring reliable performance in demanding freight and passenger service environments.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Steel Grades | AREMA Carbon (Standard / Premium / Head-Hardened), UIC 900A, R260, R350HT |
| Carbon Content | 0.72%–0.82% per AREMA / 0.60%–0.82% per EN 13674-1 |
| Minimum Tensile Strength | 880 MPa (Standard Carbon); 1,175 MPa (Head-Hardened R350HT) |
| Minimum Head Hardness | 260 HB (Standard); 350 HB (Head-Hardened) |
| Rail Weight Range | 24 kg/m (Light Rail) to 75 kg/m (Heavy Haul) |
| Common Profiles | AREMA 115 RE (57.0 kg/m), 132 RE (65.5 kg/m), 136 RE (67.5 kg/m), UIC 60 (60.34 kg/m) |
| Standard Lengths | 12.5 m, 18 m, 25 m; continuous welded rail (CWR) up to 250 m |
| Applicable Standards | ASTM A1, AREMA Chapter 4, EN 13674-1, GB 2585, UIC 860 |
| Straightness Tolerance | ≤ 0.5 mm/1.5 m (head vertical and lateral) |
| Testing | Ultrasonic inspection, surface defect detection, full chemical and mechanical certification |
Head-hardened railroad rail grades such as R350HT and AREMA Premium HH undergo controlled in-line heat treatment, producing a fine pearlitic structure with minimum head hardness of 350 HB across a depth of 20 mm or greater. This significantly extends service life in curves and heavy-axle-load corridors, reducing wear rates by up to 60% compared with standard carbon rail.
Applications of Railroad Rail
Railroad rail finds extensive application across diverse transport and industrial sectors. Heavy-haul freight corridors operating at 35-tonne axle loads rely on 136 RE or 141 RE profiles with head-hardened steel for maximum wear life. High-speed passenger networks utilize UIC 60 profiles with premium surface quality and tight straightness tolerances to minimize vibration and noise. Beyond mainline railways, lighter rail sections (24–43 kg/m) serve critical roles in mining tramways, port crane runways, and urban light-rail transit systems. Industrial crane rail profiles conforming to ASTM A759 are also available for overhead and gantry crane applications.
Get a Competitive Quote for Railroad Rail
As a mill-direct steel manufacturer, we eliminate intermediary costs and deliver railroad rail with complete material test certificates, dimensional inspection reports, and full AREMA/EN compliance documentation. Our experienced technical team can recommend the optimal rail profile and grade for your specific axle load, curvature, and annual tonnage requirements.
- 24/7 customer support available
- Free samples for quality evaluation
- Competitive pricing for bulk orders
- Professional technical consultation
Contact us today to get your free quote within 24 hours!
Ratings & Reviews
Know your supplier
Product Introduction
Hongji Profiles Co., Ltd. is a professional manufacturer and supplier specializing in the R&D, production and sales of high-quality steel profiles. With years of experience in the metallurgical industry, we have earned a solid reputation for reliability, precision and customer-centric service, providing global clients with premium steel profile solutions for diverse industrial and architectural needs.
Our core business covers a full range of steel profiles, including angle steel, channel steel, I-beams, H-beams, C-section steel, Z-section steel, flat steel and custom special steel profiles. These products are widely applied in building structures, bridges, transmission towers, industrial machinery, automotive components and shipping. We strictly control material selection, adopting high-quality steel grades such as S235JR, S355JR, SS400, A36 and Q355 series to ensure excellent mechanical properties, durability and corrosion resistance.
Guided by a customer-first philosophy, we have built a comprehensive sales and after-sales network. Our products are exported to Europe, North America, Southeast Asia and Africa, with long-term cooperation with well-known enterprises. Our team provides one-stop services, and we ensure prompt delivery through sufficient inventory and optimized logistics.
Upholding “Quality First, Integrity-based, Innovation-driven, Win-Win Cooperation”, Hongji is committed to becoming a global leader in the steel profile industry, continuously improving quality and service to create a better future with global customers.
FAQ
Supplier's customization ability
- Drawing-based customization
- Sample-based customization
- Full customization
Minimum order quantity: 1 ton
Shipping total: To be negotiated
- Lead time:
- confirmed with the quotation
- Packaging:
- standard export packing
- Samples:
- available on request
