Railroad track manufacturing and standards

In the railway transportation industry, tracks are key components to ensure the safe and stable operation of trains. As the global railroad track network continues to expand, so does the demand for high-quality tracks. To meet this market demand, AGICO has launched a new generation of high-performance rail products, specially designed for high-speed railways, heavy-haul freight, and urban rail transit, aiming to improve the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of railway transportation.

The manufacturing process of the AGICO railroad track

As a key component of the railway transportation system, the quality and performance of tracks directly affect the safety and operating efficiency of the railway. The manufacturing process of railroad tracks is the core factor that determines their quality.

1. Selection of basic materials for railway tracks

The first step in rail manufacturing is selecting the right raw materials. Generally, the manufacturing materials of railway tracks mainly include carbon steel, high manganese steel, and alloy steel.

Carbon steel: Traditional railroad tracks mainly use carbon steel, which has good hardness and tensile strength and is suitable for general railway needs.
High manganese steel: To improve the wear resistance and impact resistance of tracks, high manganese steel is widely used in heavy-haul railways and high-speed railways.
Alloy steel: Under certain conditions, by adding alloy elements such as chromium, vanadium, and titanium to steel, the corrosion resistance, fatigue resistance, and service life of rails can be greatly improved.

2. Hot rolling process

Hot rolling is one of the most important processes in railroad track manufacturing. The rails are gradually formed by heating the billet and rolling it.

Steel billet heating: First, heat the steel billet to above 1100°C to make it have good plasticity and facilitate subsequent rolling forming.
Roll forming: After the heated steel billet is rolled repeatedly through multiple rolling units, it is gradually pressed into a rail with a specific cross-sectional shape. During the rolling process, temperature and pressure need to be strictly controlled to ensure the dimensional accuracy and structural uniformity of the rails.
Finishing treatment: After rolling is completed, the track needs to undergo finishing treatment, including straightening, cutting, and grinding steps to ensure the smoothness and flatness of the rail surface and to reach the designed standard length.

3. Heat treatment process

Heat treatment is a key process to improve the performance of railroad tracks. By controlling the heating and cooling process, the internal microstructure of the rails is changed, thereby improving its mechanical properties.

Quenching: After the railroad tracks are heated to a certain temperature, they are quickly cooled (usually in water or oil), a process called quenching. Quenching can increase the hardness and wear resistance of rails, which is especially suitable for use under high-load conditions.
Tempering: After quenching, tempering is usually performed to reduce the brittleness of the railroad tracks. Tempering involves reheating the rails at a lower temperature and cooling them slowly to give them better toughness and ductility.

4. Surface treatment

The surface treatment of railroad tracks is an important step in extending their service life. Common surface preparation methods include sandblasting, coating, and anti-corrosion treatments.

Sandblasting: remove oxide scale and impurities on the railroad track surface by spraying sand particles at high speed to improve the smoothness and adhesion of the rail surface.
Coating: Apply anti-rust oil or other protective coatings to the railroad track surface to prevent the rails from getting wet and rusting during use, especially in environments with high humidity.
Anti-corrosion treatment: Hot-dip galvanizing or other anti-corrosion technologies are used to further improve the durability of the railroad tracks in harsh environments and extend their service life.

Railroad track standards

Chinese Standard

Light Rail Standard

Standard: GB11264-89
Size	Dimension(mm)				Weight (kg/m)	Material	Length(m)
Size	Head(mm)	Height(mm)	Bottom(mm)	Web(mm)	Weight (kg/m)	Material	Length(m)
GB6KG	25.4	50.8	50.8	4.76	5.98	Q235B	6-12
GB9KG	32.1	63.5	63.5	5.9	8.94	Q235B	6-12
GB12KG	38.1	69.85	69.85	7.54	12.2	Q235B/55Q	6-12
GB15KG	42.86	79.37	79.37	8.33	15.2	Q235B/55Q	6-12
GB22KG	50.3	93.66	93.66	10.72	23.3	Q235B/55Q	6-12
GB30KG	60.33	107.95	107.95	12.3	30.1	Q235B/55Q	6-12
Standard: YB222-63
8KG	25	65	54	7	8.42	Q235B	6-12
18KG	40	90	80	10	18.06	Q235B/55Q	6-12
24KG	51	107	92	10.9	24.46	Q235B/55Q	6-12

Heavy Rail Standard

Standard: GB2585-2007
Size	Dimension(mm)				Weight (kg/m)	Material	Length (m)
Size	Head(mm)	Height(mm)	Bottom(mm)	Web(mm)	Weight (kg/m)	Material	Length (m)
P38KG	68	134	114	13	38.733	U71Mn	12.5-25
P43KG	70	140	114	14.5	44.653	U71Mn	12.5-25
P50KG	70	152	132	15.5	51.514	U71Mn	12.5-25
P60KG	73	170	150	16.5	61.64	U71Mn	12.5-25

Crane Rail Standard

Standard: YB/T5055-93
Size	Dimension(mm)				Weight (kg/m)	Material	Length (m)
Size	Head(mm)	Height(mm)	Bottom(mm)	Web(mm)	Weight (kg/m)	Material	Length (m)
QU 70	70	120	120	28	52.8	U71Mn	12
QU 80	80	130	130	32	63.69	U71Mn	12
QU 100	100	150	150	38	88.96	U71Mn	12
QU 120	120	170	170	44	118.1	U71Mn	12

ASTMA1, AREMA Standard

Standard: ASTMA1, AREMA
Size	Dimension(mm)				Weight (kg/m)	Material	Length (m)
Size	Head(mm)	Height(mm)	Bottom(mm)	Web(mm)	Weight (kg/m)	Material	Length (m)
ASCE 25	38.1	69.85	69.85	7.54	12.4	700	6-12
ASCE 30	42.86	79.38	79.38	8.33	14.88	700	6-12
ASCE 40	47.62	88.9	88.9	9.92	19.84	700	6-12
ASCE 60	60.32	107.95	107.95	12.3	29.76	700	6-12
ASCE 75	62.71	122.24	122.24	13.49	37.2	900A/1100	12-25
ASCE 85	65.09	131.76	131.76	14.29	42.17	900A/1100	12-25
90RA	65.09	142.88	130.18	14.29	44.65	900A/1100	12-25
115RE	69.06	168.28	139.7	15.88	56.9	900A/1100	12-25
136RE	74.61	185.74	152.4	17.46	67.41	900A/1100	12-25
175LBs	109.86	152.4	152.4	38.1	86.8	900A/1100	12-25

BS11: 1985 Standard

Standard: BS11: 1985
Size	Dimension(mm)				Weight (kg/m)	Material	Length (m)
Size	Head(mm)	Height(mm)	Bottom(mm)	Web(mm)	Weight (kg/m)	Material	Length (m)
50 O	52.39	100.01	100.01	10.32	24.833	700	6-18
60 A	57.15	114.3	109.54	11.11	30.618	900A	6-18
75 A	61.91	128.59	114.3	12.7	37.455	900A	8-25
75 R	61.91	128.59	122.24	13.1	37.041	900A	8-25
80 A	63.5	133.35	117.47	13.1	39.761	900A	8-25
80 R	63.5	133.35	127	13.49	39.674	900A	8-25
90 A	66.67	142.88	127	13.89	45.099	900A	8-25
100 A	69.85	152.4	133.35	15.08	50.182	900A	8-25
113 A	69.85	158.75	139.7	20	56.398	900A	8-25

UIC860 Standard

Standard: UIC860
Size	Dimension(mm)				Weight (kg/m)	Material	Length (m)
Size	Head(mm)	Height(mm)	Bottom(mm)	Web(mm)	Weight (kg/m)	Material	Length (m)
UIC50	70	152	125	15	50.46	900A/1100	12-25
UIC54	70	159	140	16	54.43	900A/1100	12-25
UIC60	74.3	172	150	16.5	60.21	900A/1100	12-25

JIS E1103-91/JISE 1101-93 Standard

Standard: JIS E1103-91/JISE 1101-93
Size	Dimension(mm)				Weight (kg/m)	Material	Length (m)
Size	Head(mm)	Height(mm)	Bottom(mm)	Web(mm)	Weight (kg/m)	Material	Length (m)
JIS 15KG	42.86	79.37	79.37	8.33	15.2	JIS E standard	9-10
JIS 22KG	50.8	93.66	93.66	10.72	22.3		9-10
JIS 30KG	60.33	107.95	107.95	12.3	30.1		9-10
JIS 37Ａ	62.71	122.24	122.24	13.49	37.2		10-25
JIS 50N	65	153	127	15	50.4		10-25
CR 73	100	135	140	32	73.3		10-12
CR 100	120	150	155	39	100.2		10-12

EN 13674-1-2003 Standard

Standard: EN 13674-1-2003
Size	Dimension(mm)				Weight (kg/m)	Material	Length (m)
Size	Head(mm)	Height(mm)	Bottom(mm)	Web(mm)	Weight (kg/m)	Material	Length (m)
49 E1	67	149	125	14	49.39	R260/R350HT	12-25
49 E2	67	148	125	14	49.1	R260/R350HT	12-25
50 E1	65	153	134	15.5	50.37	R260/R350HT	12-25
50 E2	72	151	140	15	49.97	R260/R350HT	12-25
50 E4	70	152	125	15	50.46	R260/R350HT	12-25
50 E5	67	148	135	14	49.9	R260/R350HT	12-25
50 E6	65	153	140	15.5	50.9	R260/R350HT	12-25
54 E1	70	159	140	16	54.77	R260/R350HT	12-25
54 E2	67.01	161	125	16	53.82	R260/R350HT	12-25
54 E3	67	154	125	16	54.57	R260/R350HT	12-25
55 E1	62	155	134	19	56.03	R260/R350HT	12-25
60 E1	72	172	150	16.5	60.21	R260/R350HT	12-25

DIN536 Standard

Standard: DIN536
Size	Dimension(mm)				Weight (kg/m)	Material	Length (m)
Size	Head(mm)	Height(mm)	Bottom(mm)	Web(mm)	Weight (kg/m)	Material	Length (m)
A55	55	65	150	31	31.8	900A	10-12
A65	65	75	175	38	43.1	900A	10-12
A75	75	85	200	45	56.2	900A	10-12
A100	100	95	200	60	74.3	900A	10-12
A120	120	105	220	72	100	900A	10-12

Grooved Rail Standard

Size	Height (mm)	Bottom (mm)	Head A (mm)	Head B(mm)	Channel A (mm)	Channel B (mm)	Web (mm)	Weight (kg/m)
59R1	180	180	113	56	42	15	12	58.97
59R2	180	180	113	55.83	42.52	14.65	12	58.14
60R1	180	180	113	56	36	21	12	60.59
60R2	180	180	113	55.83	36.34	20.83	12	59.75

IS3443-1980 Standard

Indian Standard Railway
standard:IS3443-1980
Size	Dimension				Weight (kg/m)	Length (m)	Material
Size	Head(mm)	Height(mm)	Bottom(mm)	Web(mm)	Weight (kg/m)	Length (m)	Material
ISCR50	51.2	90	90	20	29.8	9-12	U71Mn
ISCR60	61.3	105	105	24	40	9-12
ISCR70	70	120	120	28	52.8	9-12
ISCR80	81.7	130	130	32	64.2	9-12
ISCR100	101.9	150	150	38	89	9-12
ISCR120	122	170	170	44	118	9-12

Australian Standard

Australian Standard Railway
standard:AS1085
Size	Dimension				Weight (kg/m)	Length (m)	Material
Size	Head(mm)	Height(mm)	Bottom(mm)	Web(mm)	Weight (kg/m)	Length (m)	Material
31KG	63.5	117.5	108	11.5	31.5	8-25	900A/1100
47KG	70	141.3	127	14.3	46.5
50KG	70	154	127	15	50.8
60KG	70	170	146	16.5	61
68KG	73.4	186	152	17.5	67.6
73KG	70	157	146	32	73.63
86KG	102	102	155	84.11	85.5
89KG	102	114	178	51	89.81

South African Standard

South African Standard Railway
standard:ISCOR
Size	Dimension				Weight (kg/m)	Length (m)	Material
Size	Head(mm)	Height(mm)	Bottom(mm)	Web(mm)	Weight (kg/m)	Length (m)	Material
15KG	41.28	76.2	76.2	7.54	14.905	9	700
22KG	50.01	95.25	95.25	9.92	22.542	9
30KG	57.15	109.54	109.54	11.5	30.25	9
40KG	63.5	127	127	14	40.31	9-25	900A
48KG	68	150	127	14	47.6	9-25
57KG	71.2	165	140	16	57.4	9-25

Chinese Standard

Chinese Standard Steel Rail Chemical Composition:

Chemical Composition of Chinese Standard(%)
Grade	C	Si	Mn	Max		V
Grade	C	Si	Mn	P	S	V
Q235	0.12~0.20	≤0.3	0.3~0.7	0.045	0.045	－
Q345	≤0.20	≤0.55	1.00-1.60	0.040	0.04	－
20MnK	0.15-0.26	0.20-0.60	1.20-1.60	0.050	0.050	－
M540	0.20-0.29	0.17-0.37	1.60-1.80	0.045	0.045	－
50Mn	0.48-0.56	0.17-0.37	0.70-1.00	0.035	0.035	－
55Q	0.50-0.60	0.15-0.35	0.60-0.90	0.045	0.045	－
U71Mn	0.65-0.76	0.15-0.35	1.10-1.40	0.040	0.040	－
U75v	0.71-0.80	0.50-0.80	0.70-1.05	0.030	0.030	0.04-0.12
900A	0.60-0.80	0.10-0.50	0.80-1.30	0.040	0.040	－
R260	0.60-0.82	0.13-0.60	0.65-1.25	0.030	0.030	－
R350H	0.70-0.82	0.13-0.60	0.60-1.25	0.025	0.025	－
ASSZ-1	0.76-0.82	0.10-0.50	0.90-1.15	0.030	0.030	－

Chinese Standard Steel Rail Mechanical Property:

Mechanical Properties of Chinese Standard
Grade	Yield strength （Mpa)	Tensile strength (Mpa)	Elongation (%)	Hardness (%)
Q235	≥235	375-460	≥26	－
Q345	≥345	470-630	≥21	－
20MnK	≥355	≥510	≥18	－
M540	≥390	≥540	≥18	－
50Mn	－	≥645	≥13	－
55Q	－	≥685	－	≥197
U71Mn	－	≥880	≥9	240-270
U75v	－	≥980	≥9	240-270
900A	－	≥880	≥10	240-270
R260	－	≥880	≥10	260-300
R350H	－	≥1175	≥9	350-390
ASSZ-1	－	≥980	≥9	≥275

Since the launch of the product, AGICO has reached cooperation with several domestic and foreign railway companies, and customer feedback has been positive. Our railroad track products are widely recognized and highly praised for their excellent performance and reliable quality. AGICO looks forward to working with global partners to provide excellent rail products and professional technical services for railway construction around the world and achieve win-win development.