Railway Fishplate – Premium Quality for Heavy-Duty Rail Connections

When two steel rails come together, a railway fishplate, also called a rail joint bar or splice bar—locks them firmly in place. This seemingly simple piece of metal plays a crucial role: it ensures the rails stay perfectly aligned, bears the weight and stress of passing trains, and upholds the safety and reliability of the entire track system.

This guide will help you understand key fishplate specifications—including dimensions, materials, hole spacing, and types—so you can choose the right product for your needs.

1. What Is a Railway Fishplate?

A railway fishplate is a sturdy metal bar that bolts onto the ends of two rails, holding them together with precision. It reinforces the track, keeps the rails perfectly aligned, and channels the weight and forces from one rail to the next. Since each rail has its own unique profile, choosing this important railway parts that matches the rail section exactly is crucial—this is why careful attention to specifications makes all the difference.

Because every rail type has a unique profile, it’s essential to match the fishplate to the exact rail section. That’s why paying attention to specifications matters.

2. Why Fishplate Specifications Matter

Selecting the correct fishplate ensures:

A stable and continuous rail connection

Proper track gauge and alignment

Smooth load transfer, even under heavy traffic

Reduced vibration and lower risk of rail breakage

Full compatibility with rail bolts and tie plates

Using incorrect specifications can lead to rail movement, loose bolts, or even derailment risks.

3. Common Fishplate Specifications by Rail Type

Fishplate sizes are designed to match specific rail models. Here’s a practical breakdown covering the most widely used types across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, South America, and industrial railways.

Light Rail Fishplate Specifications

Rail Type	Length (mm)	Thickness (mm)	Holes
8 kg	230–250	12–14	4
9 kg	As per corresponding standard	4
12 kg	260–280	14–16	4
15 kg	300–320	14–18	4
18 kg	330–350	16–18	4
22 kg	360–380	16–20	4
24 kg	As per corresponding standard	4
30 kg	400–420	18–22	4

Heavy Rail Fishplate Specifications

Rail Type / Standard	Length (mm)	Thickness (mm)	Holes
38 kg	450–480	20–24	4
43 kg	500–550	22–26	4
50 kg / UIC50	550–600	24–28	6
60 kg (China)	650–700	26–30	6

Crane Rail Fishplate Specifications (QU Series)

Rail Type	Also Known As	Common Configurations
QU70	Crane Rail Inclined Joint Bar	6 holes
QU80	Crane Rail Inclined Joint Bar	6 holes
QU100	Crane Rail Inclined Joint Bar	6 holes
QU120	Crane Rail Inclined Joint Bar	6 holes

We also supply fishplates conforming to international standards such as BS47 (e.g., BS80A, BS75R) and UIC series (e.g., UIC54, UIC60).

4. Key Dimensional Parameters

A complete fishplate specification includes:

Length – depends on rail weight and expected load.

Thickness – influences strength and stiffness.

Bolt Hole Diameter – typically 18–25 mm.

Bolt Hole Spacing – must match the rail’s drilling pattern.

Number of Bolt Holes – commonly 4-hole or 6-hole designs.

Surface Contour – ensures a perfect fit with the rail head and foot.

We also support customized specifications for industrial and mining railways.

5. Types of Railway Fishplates

Standard Fishplate
Used in conventional railways and light industrial tracks.

Heavy-Duty Fishplate
Thicker and stronger, ideal for high-speed lines and heavy axle loads.

Insulated Fishplate
Made of composite or fiberglass; used in electrified railways and track circuit sections.

Forged Fishplate
Offers higher strength, suitable for demanding conditions.

Cast Steel Fishplate
A cost-effective solution for light to medium-duty applications.

6. Materials

We offer fishplates in several materials to suit different performance needs:

Q235 Rolled Steel – A reliable choice for general use.

Forged Steel – Provides enhanced strength and durability.

Ductile Iron – Known for its good mechanical properties and impact resistance.

All materials can be produced to meet international standards such as AREMA, BS, UIC, TB/T, or JIS, depending on your region.

7. How to Select the Right Fishplate

Here’s a simple checklist to help you choose:

Identify the exact rail model (e.g., 50 kg, UIC60, QU100).

Confirm bolt size and hole spacing.

Select the material grade based on load and environmental conditions (e.g., corrosion, temperature, impact).

Consider special types like insulated fishplates for track circuits.

Provide your supplier with a rail drawing or profile standard for accurate matching.

8 .Company Profile

Luoyang Fonyo Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. was founded in 1998 . Over the years, Fonyo has been recognized multiple times as the Luoyang Engineering Technology Center, Luoyang Technology R&D Center, and a National High-tech Enterprise.

With an annual production capacity of 30,000 tons, we specialize in cast steel and cast iron (including gray iron and ductile iron), as well as machining of finished products and component assembly for industries such as locomotive, railcar, high-speed rail, mining equipment, and wind power.

Our products are exported to more than ten countries and regions, including Russia, the United States, Germany, Argentina, Japan, France, South Africa, and Italy.

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 for locomotive, railcar, high-speed trains, mining equipment, wind power, etc.
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.

If you are interested in any products, please feel free to contact us.