Rail connection plate rail joint plate rail splint rail fish plate full range of specifications custom

Overview of Fish Plate

Fish plate, also known as rail joint bar, is the core component of the railway track connection and is used to fix and connect the ends of the rails. A screw hole is provided in the middle of the fish plate body. Working surfaces that contact the lower part of the rail head and the upper part of the rail bottom are formed on the upper and lower sides along the horizontal axis of the screw hole. The rear part of the upper working surface extends upward to form a bridge arch transition section higher than the rail surface, which can reduce the impact of the wheels. In terms of screw hole design, light rail fish plates (such as 8kg-30kg) usually have 4 holes, and heavy rail fish plates (such as 38kg-60kg) have 6 holes, and an elliptical hole design is adopted. The protruding part of the bolt tail matches the elliptical hole to ensure the tightening effect. The fish plate is tightly combined with the rail through bolts to ensure the stability and safety of the train operation. Its structural design needs to withstand train loads, impact forces and complex working conditions, and it is a key consumable for railway infrastructure.

Features of Fish Plate

rail joint bar has multiple key functions in the railway system:

1.Track connection and fixation
Connect adjacent rails into a continuous track through bolts to prevent rail joints from shifting or misaligning when trains pass.

2.Impact force dispersion
The bridge arch transition section design can disperse the impact force of the wheels on the rail joints, reduce the longitudinal deformation of the rails, and improve the track smoothness.

3.Adapt to complex working conditions

• Insulated rail joint（glued insulated joint）: using insulating materials, suitable for electrified railways to prevent current leakage through the track
• Weather resistance: after heat treatment or rust prevention treatment, it can adapt to harsh environments such as high temperature, high humidity, and heavy rain.

3.Convenient maintenance
The bolt connection design facilitates quick installation and disassembly, reducing maintenance costs

Classification	Metal material	Main components	Applicable rail types	Features
Cast railroad splints	Cast iron (such as QT400-18)	Iron (Fe), carbon (C), silicon (Si), etc.	8kg-30kg light rail	Low cost, suitable for light load scenarios, such as urban light rail, mining transportation, etc.
Q235 cast steel rail joint bar	Q235 steel	(Fe), carbon (C) ≤0.22%, etc.	8kg-30kg light rail	Strength is higher than cast iron, suitable for medium load scenarios, such as factory rail systems.
45# steel rail joint bar	45# Steel	(Fe), Carbon (C) 0.42%-0.50%, etc	8kg-30kg Light Rail	High hardness after quenching, good wear resistance, suitable for high wear scenarios
ZG270-500 cast steel rail joint bar	ZG270-500 cast steel	Iron (Fe), carbon (C), manganese (Mn), etc.	38kg-75kg heavy rail	High strength, impact resistance, suitable for heavy-duty railways, industrial rails and other scenarios
40CrNiMoA forged steel rail joint bar	40CrNiMoA alloy steel	Iron (Fe), carbon (C), chromium (Cr), etc	QU70-QU120 crane rail	High strength and toughness, suitable for heavy-load crane rails, ensuring the safe operation of lifting equipment
Composite metal rail joint bar	Composite material (metal frame + insulation layer)	Metal (such as Q235 steel) + insulation resin	8kg-60kg (multiple specifications available)	The metal frame provides structural strength, and the insulation layer prevents current conduction, which is suitable for scenarios such as electrified railways

Specifications table of Fish Plate

Classification	Applicable rail type	Metal material	Number of bolt holes	Bolt specification (M)	Weight (kg)	Features
Light rail cast iron rail joint bar	8kg, 12kg, 15kg, 18kg, 22kg, 24kg, 30kg	Cast iron (such as QT400-18)	4 holes	M12-M20	2.5-12.3	Low cost, suitable for light load scenarios, such as urban light rail, mining transportation, etc.
Light rail cast steel rail joint bar	8kg-30kg (multiple specifications available)	Cast steel (such as Q235, 45# steel)	4 holes	M12-M20	3.5-15.0	Higher strength than cast iron, suitable for medium load scenarios, such as factory inner rail systems.
Heavy rail joint bar	38kg, 43kg, 50kg, 60kg, 75kg cast steel (such as ZG270-500)	cast steel (such as ZG270-500)	6 holes	M22-M27	18.7-32.5	High strength, impact resistance, suitable for heavy-duty railways, industrial rails and other scenarios
Crane rail joint bar	QU70, QU80, QU100, QU120	Forged steel (such as 40CrNiMoA)	6 holes	M30	35-50	High strength, suitable for heavy-load crane rails, ensuring the safe operation of lifting equipment
Insulated rail joint bar	8kg-60kg (multiple specifications available)	Composite material (including metal frame + insulation layer)	4 holes/6 holes	M12-M27	2.5-32.5	The metal frame provides structural strength, and the insulation layer prevents current conduction, which is suitable for scenarios such as electrified railways.

Performance of Fish Plate

• Tensile strength ≥500MPa, yield strength ≥300MPa, meet the standards of the International Railway Union (UIC).
• Environmental adaptability：Passed fatigue test (10⁶ cycles of load), no cracks or breaks.
• Corrosion resistance test (salt spray test 480 hours): surface corrosion rate ≤0.5%.
• emperature range: -40℃ to +80℃, suitable for extremely cold or high temperature areas.
  Service life
• Service life ≥15 years under normal conditions, which can be extended to 20 years with proper maintenance.

Application of Fish Plate

• Railway trunk lines：Track connections for high-speed railways and heavy-load railways ensure the stability of trains during high-speed operation.
• Urban rail transit：Track joints for subways and light rails are adapted to frequent start-stop and vibration environments.
• Mining and industrial rails：Mine transportation rails and factory internal rails withstand heavy loads and harsh working conditions.
• Ports and logistics：Port container rails and logistics park rails ensure the safety of cargo transportation.

How to use fish plate

• Cleaning rail joints: remove rust and oil stains to ensure that the contact surface is flat.
• Placing the Fish plate: Align the rail splint with the rail joint and align the bolt holes.
• Pre-tightening bolts: Use a torque wrench to pre-tighten the bolts in diagonal order. The torque value refers to the specification table.
• Final tightening: Tighten according to the standard torque (such as 400-500N•m for 43kg/m rail).

Maintenance suggestions for Fish Plate

• Check the tightening status of the bolts regularly, at least once a quarter.
• Replace immediately if cracks or deformations are found to avoid safety hazards.
• Insulating rail splints need to be tested for insulation resistance to ensure ≥10MΩ.

Safety precautions for Fish Plate

• Wear protective gloves during installation to avoid pinching.
• Maintenance work is prohibited when there are trains passing on the track.

Package of fish plate

Polybag+Carton box+Wooden case/Pallet, according to customer’s request

Company Profile

Luoyang Fonyo Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. was founded in 1998, covers an area of 72,600㎡, with more than 300 employees, 32 technicians, including 5 senior engineers, 11 assistant engineers, and 16 technicians. It has been rated as Luoyang Engineering Technology Center, Luoyang Technology R&D Center, and National High-tech Enterprise for many times.
Our production capacity is 30,000 tons per year. Currently, we mainly produce cast steel, cast iron (gray iron, ductile iron, etc.), processing of finished product and component assembly.the products have been exported to Russia, the United States, Germany, Argentina, Japan, France, South Africa,Italy and other countries.

FAQS

Q1: Are you a manufacturer or trading company?
A:We are a manufacturer. Our company was founded in 1998, with nearly 30 years in casting industry, a total area of 72,600㎡, with a factory building area of 51,000㎡.
Q2. What are your main products?
A: We primarily focus on steel casting, iron casting, finished product machining, and component assembly production.
Q3: How precision can you produce casting parts?
A: We have the capability of producing casting parts with different casting processes. The production is strictly comply with ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO45001,EN15085, IRIS.
Q4. Can you produce according to the samples?
 Yes, we can produce by your samples or technical drawings. We can build drawings for you after we get your samples too.
Q5: How do you do Quality Control before delivery?
A: Quality inspection is a very important factor to guarantee the quality of steel casting parts. We follow 3 times of inspection during the whole production process. And we will provide material testing report, dimensional testing report, and mechanical properties testing report to our clients before delivery.

It you are interested in any products,please feel free to contact us.
Contact: Stella Liu
Email:sales@railwaypart.com
Mobile: +86-15515351287