EN 13674-2:2019

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-december-2019
Nadomešča:
SIST EN 13674-2:2006+A1:2010
Železniške naprave - Zgornji ustroj proge - Tirnice - 2. del: Tirnice za kretnice in
križišča, ki se uporabljajo skupaj z Vignolovo tirnico z maso 46 kg/m ali več
Railway applications - Track - Rail - Part 2: Switch and crossing rails used in conjunction
with Vignole railway rails 46 kg/m and above
Bahnanwendungen - Oberbau - Schienen - Teil 2: Schienen für Weichen und
Kreuzungen, die in Verbindung mit Vignolschienen ab 46 kg/m verwendet werden
Applications ferroviaires - Voie - Rails - Partie 2 : Rails pour appareils de voie utilisés
avec des rails Vignole de masse supérieure ou égale à 46 kg/m
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 13674-2:2019
ICS:
45.080 Tračnice in železniški deli Rails and railway
components
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EN 13674-2
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
October 2019
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 93.100 Supersedes EN 13674-2:2006+A1:2010
English Version
Railway applications - Track - Rail - Part 2: Switch and
crossing rails used in conjunction with Vignole railway
rails 46 kg/m and above
Applications ferroviaires - Voie - Rails - Partie 2 : Rails Bahnanwendungen - Oberbau - Schienen - Teil 2:
pour appareils de voie utilisés avec des rails Vignole de Schienen für Weichen und Kreuzungen, die in
masse supérieure ou égale à 46 kg/m Verbindung mit Vignolschienen ab 46 kg/m verwendet
werden
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 2 January 2019.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and
United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2019 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 13674-2:2019 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 4
Introduction . 6
1 Scope . 8
2 Normative references . 8
3 Terms and definitions . 8
4 Information to be supplied by the purchaser . 9
5 Steel grades . 10
6 Dimensions, static properties, linear mass and tolerances . 11
7 Manufacture . 11
7.1 Product integrity . 11
7.1.1 Factory production control . 11
7.1.2 Best practice manufacture . 12
7.2 Blooms . 12
7.3 Rails . 12
7.4 Identification . 12
7.4.1 Branding . 12
7.4.2 Hot stamping . 13
7.4.3 Cold stamping . 13
7.4.4 Other identification . 13
8 Qualification of the manufacturer. 13
9 Acceptance tests . 14
9.1 Laboratory tests . 14
9.1.1 General . 14
9.1.2 Chemical composition . 14
9.1.3 Microstructure . 18
9.1.4 Decarburization . 18
9.1.5 Oxide cleanness . 19
9.1.6 Sulfur prints . 19
9.1.7 Hardness . 19
9.1.8 Tensile tests . 20
9.1.9 Retest procedures . 21
9.2 Dimension tolerances . 21
9.2.1 Profile . 21
9.2.2 Straightness, surface flatness and twist . 22
9.2.3 Cutting and drilling . 26
9.3 Gauges . 26
9.4 Inspection for internal quality and surface quality . 26
9.4.1 Internal quality . 26
9.4.2 Surface quality. 28
9.4.3 Checking of automated testing equipment . 30
Annex A (normative) Rail profiles . 41
Annex B (normative) Comparison of steel designations referred to in this standard compared to
those in EN 10027-2 . 108
Annex ZA (informative) Relationship between this European Standard and the Essential
Requirements of EU Directive 2008/57/EC aimed to be covered . 109
Bibliography . 111

European foreword
This document (EN 13674-2:2019) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 256 “Railway
applications”, the secretariat of which is held by DIN.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an identical
text or by endorsement, at the latest by April 2020, and conflicting national standards shall be withdrawn at
the latest by April 2020.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document supersedes EN 13674-2:2006+A1:2010.
This document has been prepared under a mandate given to CEN by the European Commission and the
European Free Trade Association, and supports essential requirements of EU Directive 2008/57/EC.
For relationship with EU Directive 2008/57/EC, see informative Annex ZA, which is an integral part of this
document.
The most significant change which was made in this new edition are the following ones:
1) suppression of Profile 60E2A3 as Figure A.20 in Table A.1, and update of numbering of Tables A.1 and
A.2 accordingly;
2) introduction of Grade R370CrHT in Table 3, and modifications of the relevant clauses and tables;
3) modification of the calculation formula for hardness in 9.1.7;
4) clean up of figures and editorial errors.
This part of EN 13674 is the second of the EN 13674 series, Railway applications – Track – Rail, which
consists of the following parts:
— Part 1: Vignole railway rails 46 kg/m and above;
— Part 2: Switch and crossing rails used in conjunction with Vignole railway rails 46 kg/m and above;
— Part 3: Check rails;
— Part 4: Vignole railway rails from 27 kg/m to, but excluding 46 kg/m.
Other published standards include the following:
— EN 14587-1, Railway applications - Infrastructure - Flash butt welding of new rails - Part 1: R220, R260,
R260Mn, R320Cr, R350HT, R350LHT, R370CrHT and R400HT grade rails in a fixed plant;
— EN 14587-2, Railway applications – Track - Flash butt welding of rails – Part 2: New R220, R260, R260Mn
and R350HT grade rails by mobile welding machines at sites other than a fixed plant;
— EN 14587-3, Railway applications – Track - Flash butt welding of rails – Part 3: Welding in association
with crossing construction;
— EN 14730-1, Railway applications – Track - Aluminothermic welding of rails – Part 1: Approval of welding
processes;
— EN 14730-2, Railway applications – Track - Aluminothermic welding of rails – Part 2: Qualification of
aluminothermic welders, approval of contractors and acceptance of welds;
— EN 14811, Railway applications – Track – Special purpose rail – Grooved rails and associated construction
profiles;
— EN 15594, Railway applications – Track – Restoration of rails by electric arc welding;
— EN 16273, Railway applications – Track – Forged rail transitions.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the following
countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia,
Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.
Introduction
This Introduction provides an explanation of the concepts and reasoning used in the drafting of this
document. Its inclusion also ensures that during future revisions, restrictions are removed where technology
progresses and held where it does not, thus ensuring continued safety as new manufacturers, products and
technologies are introduced.
The most commonly used standards of the world for the supply of railway rails have been reviewed during
the preparation of this document. However, modern rail production technology within the European Union
has demanded a completely new look at the philosophy and content of this part of EN 13674.
Whenever possible this part of EN 13674 is performance based, recognizes the European Quality System
standard EN ISO 9001 and requires manufacturers to offer the latest proven technology to consistently
satisfy the demanding quality of the required product.
Rail grading is based on hardness rather than tensile strength.
The acceptance tests have been designed to control those characteristics of the rail steel and rail that are of
relevance to the production of high quality rails and the demands of the railway.
The steel grades covered by this part of EN 13674 reflect trends in railway usage and heat-treated rails are
included. This document includes rail profiles for switch and crossing rails used in conjunction with Vignole
rails having a linear mass 46 kg/m and above.
To ensure the supply of high quality rails, some restrictions on production processes have been imposed.
This document supersedes other standards covered by the scope. In addition CEN required, where possible,
a performance based standard, taking into account safety implications and at the same time addressing
modern production technology. It was recognized that there would be few opportunities (and these would
have to be for transparent safety considerations) for derogation from this document to operate between the
user and the manufacturer.
This document reflects this change in philosophy from the traditional content of rail standards. A review was
undertaken of the most commonly used rail standards of the world. All relevant aspects important to both
user and manufacturer were considered with the aim of ensuring that all of the content had specific
usefulness and relevance. For example rail grading and much of this European Standard has been based on
hardness rather than tensile strength. While the two are directly related, hardness is very quick and cheap to
carry out and provides more relevant guidance to the user particularly where properties vary in different
parts of the profile.
Since many rail manufacturers would not have previously carried out proving trials, the document includes a
prerequisite for all manufacturers to prove conformity against a set of qualifying test criteria at the time of
tendering. The qualifying tests include all “normal” acceptance test results plus new ‘type-casting’ features
such as fracture toughness, fatigue and residual stress (see EN 13674-1). To provide users with the
necessary confidence, acceptance limits have been based on results from rail known to have performed well
in demanding track installations.
One aspect of this document, which is a complete break from tradition, is the inclusion of quality assurance
and inspection clause as part of product integrity.
So that quality management systems are consistent across all manufacturers and that users have the best
assurance for the consistency of required product quality on this safety critical component of the track, the
rail standard requires that the manufacturers’ quality assurance systems are at least equivalent to the
requirements of a quality management standard such as EN ISO 9001. The inclusion of this requirement also
reduces the need to incorporate detailed method and calibration descriptions on items such as normal
chemical composition determination and the need to define more extensive testing.
Ideally, manufacturing techniques should not be referenced in a product standard. However, some rail
attributes are either not known in an exact manner or are not measurable with satisfactory statistical
significance. In such cases best practice manufacturing techniques have been included as a last resort. The
equipment specified is that which gives the best probability of achieving the required product for use in
track. In the future new technology can add to, but preferably will reduce or delete such items.
Examples of areas where the technological state of the art renders the standard less than complete include:
— oxide/oxygen relationships;
— hydrogen test techniques;
— roller straightening effects on residual stresses;
— roller straightening effects on contact scrub;
— measurement and effect of residual stresses throughout the rail.
1 Scope
This document specifies switch and crossing rails that carry railway wheels. These are used in conjunction
with Vignole railway rails.
This document is not applicable for the check rails that do not carry railway wheels.
Nine pearlitic steel grades are specified covering a hardness range of 200 HBW to 410 HBW and include non-
heat-treated non-alloy steels, non-heat-treated alloy steels, heat-treated non-alloy steels, heat-treated low
alloy steels and heat-treated alloy steels.
There are 33 rail profiles specified in this standard, but they may not all be available in all steel grades.
Rails specified in EN 13674-1 can also be used as switch and crossing rails and if so used they will comply
with the requirements of EN 13674-1.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes
requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references,
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 10027-1, Designation systems for steels – Part 1: Steel names
EN 10027-2, Designation systems for steels – Part 2: Numerical system
EN 10163-1, Delivery requirements for surface condition of hot-rolled steel plates, wide flats and sections –
Part 1: General requirements
EN 10276-1, Chemical analysis of ferrous materials – Determination of oxygen in steel and iron – Part 1:
Sampling and preparation of steel samples for oxygen determination
EN 13674-1:2011+A1:2017, Railway applications – Track – Rail – Part 1: Vignole railway rails 46 kg/m and
above
EN ISO 6506-1, Metallic materials – Brinell hardness test – Part 1: Test method (ISO 6506-1)
EN ISO 6892-1, Metallic materials – Tensile testing – Part 1: Method of test at room temperature (ISO 6892-1)
ISO 4968, Steel – Macrographic examination by sulfur print (Baumann method)
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
• IEC Electropedia: available at http://www.electropedia.org/
• ISO Online browsing platform: available at http://www.iso.org/obp
3.1
heat
one liquid steel melt tapped out of a converter or electric arc furnace which includes after continuous casting
a given number of blooms relating to the weight of the heat and the extension of the mixing zone
Note 1 to entry: In the case of sequence casting the blooms belonging to the mixing zone should be clearly defined.
3.2
sequence
number of heats, of the same steel grade, which undergo continuous casting in tundishes
Note 1 to entry: Tundishes may be used in parallel if the caster has many strands.
3.3
heat-treated rail
rail that has undergone accelerated cooling from austenitizing temperature during the metallurgical
transformation period
3.4
re-heated rail
rolled rail that has undergone re-austenitization for heat treatment purposes
3.5
mill heat-treated rail
heat-treated rail that has not undergone re-austenitization after rolling
3.6
rolling process
process between the blooms leaving the heating furnace and exiting the finishing pass
3.7
isothermal treatment process
process whereby blooms are held for a period of time at an elevated temperature for diminishing the
hydrogen content
Note 1 to entry: For maximum efficiency this is as near to (but below) the pearlite to austenite transformation
temperature as is practically possible.
Note 2 to entry: This process is sometimes referred to as sub-critical diffusion annealing.
3.8
qualifying tests
special tests and criteria which are relevant to some aspects of the service performance of rails
Note 1 to entry: Acceptance tests also form part of the qualifying tests.
3.9
acceptance tests
tests carried out as part of the process and product control system, normally on a heat, sequence or tonnage
basis
3.10
rail running surface
curved surface of the rail head, and area between both gauge corners (transition points of the head
inclination and the first head radius)
4 Information to be supplied by the purchaser
The purchaser shall provide the supplier with the following information when inviting tenders to supply:
a) rail profiles (see Annex A);
b) steel grades (see Table 1);
c) length (or lengths) of rail (see 9.2.3 and Table 8);
d) paint code requirements (see 7.4.4);
e) undrilled or drilled rail ends to take fish plate bolts, and the location and dimensions of holes when
required (see 9.2.3 and Table 8);
f) any special treatments to be applied and corresponding tolerances for bolt holes (see 9.2.3);
g) cold stamping on the cut surface, if applicable (see 7.4.3).
5 Steel grades
The applicable steel grades are given in Table 1. The hardness ranges of the steel grades shall conform to
those given in Table 1.
The steel grade designations referred to in this standard are compared to those in EN 10027-1 and
EN 10027-2 in Annex B.
Table 1 — Steel grades
a
Grade Hardness range (HBW) Description Branding lines

R200 200 to 240 Non-alloy (C-Mn)
No branding lines
R220 220 to 260 Non-alloy (C-Mn)
______
___
R260 260 to 300 Non-alloy (C-Mn)
______
______
R260Mn 260 to 300 Non-alloy (C-Mn)
______
___
R260Cr 260 to 300 Alloy (0,5 % Cr) ______
______
______
R320Cr 320 to 360 Alloy (1 % Cr) ______
______
___
b
R350HT 350 to 390 Non-alloy (C-Mn) heat-treated
______  ______
___
b
R350LHT 350 to 390 Non-alloy (C-Mn) heat-treated ______  ______
___
b
R370CrHT 370 to 410 Alloy (C-Mn) heat-treated ___
______  ______
______
a
See Table 3 for chemical composition/mechanical properties.
b
See Table 5 for hardness requirements.
6 Dimensions, static properties, linear mass and tolerances
Rail profiles, dimensions, static properties and linear masses shall be in accordance with Annex A. The
tolerances of certain dimensions shall be given in Table 6. All other quantities are informative only.
NOTE Linear masses have been calculated based on the density of steel of 7,85 g/cm .
7 Manufacture
7.1 Product integrity
7.1.1 Factory production control
Rails shall be produced under a comprehensive system of factory production control, which shall ensure
confidence in the conformity of the finished product. The system shall address this European Standard to
ensure that the finished products consistently comply with requirements to achieve the product integrity
necessary to provide assurance of product safety in track.
Manufacturers shall demonstrate continuing compliance, including documented evidence, with the factory
production control system required.
NOTE Manufacturers having a factory production control system, such as EN ISO 9001, are recognized as satisfying
the minimum requirements specified by this clause.
7.1.2 Best practice manufacture
The product shall be manufactured to the best practices as defined in 7.1.1.
NOTE This is to ensure that the rail attributes, described in the Introduction, which are not known in an exact
manner or are not practically measurable, achieve the required high level of product integrity in track.
7.2 Blooms
Blooms made from basic oxygen steel or electric arc furnace steel that has been secondary ladle arc refined,
vacuum degassed and continuously cast, shall be used for the manufacture of rails.
7.3 Rails
The manufacturer shall operate a procedure for the effective removal of scale during the rolling and
straightening processes.
The cross-sectional area of the rail shall not exceed one seventh that of the bloom from which the rail is
rolled, except for full web rails (Figures A.27 to A.33), where this value shall not exceed one fifth.
Rail straightening shall be by a two stage roller straightening process which straightens the rail about its xx
and yy axes as defined in the rail profiles shown in Annex A. End deviations or a localized deviation on the
rail may be corrected using pressing.
NOTE Other mandatory processes are described in the relevant clauses within the standard.
7.4 Identification
7.4.1 Branding
Brand marks shall be rolled in relief on one side and in the middle of the web (see Annex A) of each rail at
least once every 4 m. The brand marks on the rails shall be clearly legible and shall be 15 mm to 25 mm high,
raised between 0,6 mm and 1,3 mm. For asymmetric rails, except 50E6A2, the brand shall be on the gauge
side of the rail profile. For 50E6A2 rail the brand shall be on the non-gauge side.
The branding line(s) to denote grade shall be 50 mm in length for the long branding line and 25 mm in
length for the short branding line.
The brand marks shall include:
a) identification of the mill;
b) steel grade as shown in Table 1;
c) last two figures of the year of manufacture;
d) rail profile identification as shown in Annex A.
EXAMPLES
__
ROLLING MILL 99  60 E1A5
______
(60 E1A5 profile rail rolled 1999, non-alloy rail steel grade R260)
__ ______
ROLLING MILL 99  60 E1T2
______
(60 E1T2 profile rail rolled 1999, non-alloy heat-treated rail steel grade R350HT).
7.4.2 Hot stamping
In addition to the branding requirements of 7.4.1 each rail shall be identified by a numerical and/or
alphabetical code system hot stamped on the non-branded side of the rail web by machine, except 50E6A2,
and each rail shall be hot stamped at least once every 5 m. If for asymmetric rails hot stamping every 5 m is
not practical, the identification of the rail shall be secured by hot stamping or rotary burr near one end of the
rail.
NOTE 1 A rail can display different indications of position of the rail in the blooms (A,B…Y) along its length.
NOTE 2 Subsequent cutting could result in more than one rail length having the same identity.
The figures and letters used shall be clearly legible and shall be 16 mm high. The stamped characters shall
have a flat or radius face (1 mm to 1,5 mm wide) with bevels on each side. The letters and numbers shall be
on a 10° angle from vertical and shall have rounded corners. The stamping shall be between 0,5 mm and
1,5 mm in depth along the centre of the web. The design shall be as shown in Figure 1.
The identification system employed shall be such as to enable the hot stamped marking to be collated with:
a) number of the heat from which the rail has been rolled;
b) number of the strand and position of bloom within the strand;
c) position of the rail in the bloom (A, B . Y).
In the event of identification marks having been removed, omitted or requiring alteration, re-identification
of such marks shall be made by rotary burr.
7.4.3 Cold stamping
Cold stamping shall only be used on the cut face of the rail within the central portion of the head, at the
request of the purchaser.
7.4.4 Other identification
The steel grade may additionally be identified using paint. The purchaser shall specify the colour and
position of the paint application.
8 Qualification of the manufacturer
The manufacturer shall qualify under EN 13674-1:2011+A1:2017, Clause 8 and shall then be qualified for all
profiles of this part of EN 13674, provided the qualification was for the profile 60E1, 60E2 or the heaviest
produced for the same grade.
NOTE The qualifying criteria specified in EN 13674-1 cannot be achieved using the rail grades and profiles
specified in this part of the standard.
For the R260Cr grade, the qualifying criteria may be agreed between the manufacturer and the purchaser.
9 Acceptance tests
9.1 Laboratory tests
9.1.1 General
Laboratory tests shall be performed, during production, at frequencies as stipulated in Table 2. Results for
each laboratory test shall comply with the limiting values shown in Table 3. Additional information and
other acceptance tests not covered by Table 3 shall comply with the requirements of 9.1.2 to 9.1.8 inclusive.
All rails supplied shall meet the requirements of Clause 9.
9.1.2 Chemical composition
9.1.2.1 General
The liquid chemical composition shall be determined for each heat. When the solid chemical composition is
checked, this shall be carried out at the position of the tensile test piece. The chemical composition shall
conform to the requirements of Table 3 and Table 4.
9.1.2.2 Hydrogen
The hydrogen content of the liquid steel shall be measured by determining pressure of hydrogen in the steel
using an online immersion probe system.
At least two liquid samples shall be taken from the first heat of any sequence using a new tundish and one
from each of the remaining heats and analysed for hydrogen content (see Table 2). The first sample from the
first heat in a sequence shall be taken from the tundish at the time of the maximum hydrogen concentration.
The heats shall be assessed for hydrogen content in accordance with Table 3.
If the hydrogen contents of the first samples of a first heat or the heat sample of a second or further heat do
not comply with the requirements of Table 3 then the blooms made before those samples are taken shall be
slowly cooled or isothermally treated. This applies also to all blooms made before the hydrogen content
eventually complies with the requirements in Table 3; in these cases, all heats shall be tested in the rail form,
or the manufacturer shall calculate the hydrogen content with a documented model of hydrogen diffusion
taking into account the time – temperature evolution of the blooms during the isothermal treatment process.
In case of dispute, the hydrogen content shall be tested in the rail form.
When testing of rails is required rail samples shall be taken at the hot saw at a frequency of one per heat at
random. However on the first heat in a sequence, the rail sample shall be from the last part of a first bloom
teemed on any strand. Hydrogen determination shall be carried out on samples taken from the centre of the
rail head.
If any test result after corrective treatment fails to meet the requirements stated in Table 3, the heat shall be
rejected.
Table 2 — Testing frequency
Test (on) Relevant Steel grades
subclause
R200, R220, R260, R260Mn, R260Cr, R320Cr R350HT, R350LHT, R370CrHT
Chemical composition 9.1.2 One per heat One per heat
Hydrogen 9.1.2.2 One per heat (2 tests from first heat in sequence) One per heat (2 from first heat in sequence)
a a
Total oxygen 9.1.2.3 One per sequence One per sequence
a,c
Microstructure 9.1.3 Not required for grades R200, R220 and R260 One per 100 t
One per 1 000 t or part thereof for grades
a,b
R260Mn, R260Cr and R320Cr
a,b
Decarburization 9.1.4 One per 1 000 t or part thereof One per 500 t
a,b a,b or c
Oxide cleanness 9.1.5 One per sequence One per sequence
a,b a,b or c
Sulfur print 9.1.6 One per 500 t or part thereof One per 500 t or part thereof
a,b a,c
Hardness 9.1.7 One per heat One per 100 t

a,b a,c
Tensile 9.1.8 One calculation per heat/one test per 2 000 t One per 1 000 t (test)
a
Samples shall be taken at random but only rails from blooms outside the mixing zone between heats when continuously cast in sequence.
b
Samples shall be cut after rolling.
c
Samples shall be cut from heat-treated rails.
Table 3 — Chemical composition/mechanical properties
−4
Steel grade % by mass 10 % Tensile Elongation after Hardness of the running
c
(ppm) strength R fracture A surface, Centre line
m
Max. Min. Min.
Steel Sample C Si Mn P S Cr Al V N a b MPa % HBW
O H
name max. max. max. max. max.
R200 Liquid 0,40 to 0,15 to 0,70 to 0,035 0,035 ≤ 0,15 0,004 0,030 0,009 20 3,0
0,60 0,58 1,20
Solid 0,38 to 0,13 to 0,65 to 0,040 0,040 ≤ 0,15 0,004 0,030 0,010 20 3,0 680 14 200 to 240
0,62 0,60 1,25
R220 Liquid 0,50 to 0,20 to 1,00 to 0,025 0,025 ≤ 0,15 0,004 0,030 0,009 20 3,0
0,60 0,60 1,25
Solid 0,50 to 0,20 to 1,00 to 0,025 0,025 ≤ 0,15 0,004 0,030 0,010 20 3,0 770 12 220 to 260
0,60 0,60 1,25
R260 Liquid 0,62 to 0,15 to 0,70 to 0,025 0,025 ≤ 0,15 0,004 0,030 0,009 20 2,5
0,80 0,58 1,20
Solid 0,60 to 0,13 to 0,65 to 0,030 0,030 ≤ 0,15 0,004 0,030 0,010 20 2,5 880 10 260 to 300
0,82 0,60 1,25
R260 Liquid 0,55 to 0,15 to 1,30 to 0,025 0,025 ≤ 0,15 0,004 0,030 0,009 20 2,5
0,75 0,60 1,70
Mn Solid 0,53 to 0,13 to 1,25 to 0,030 0,030 ≤ 0,15 0,004 0,030 0,010 20 2,5 880 10 260 to 300
0,77 0,62 1,75
R260 Liquid 0,40 to 0,20 to 1,20 to 0,025 0,025 0,40 to 0,004 0,060 0,009 20 2,5
0,60 0,45 1,60 0,60
Cr Solid 0,40 to 0,20 to 1,20 to 0,030 0,030 0,40 to 0,004 0,060 0,010 20 2,5 880 10 260 to 300
0,60 0,45 1,60 0,60
R320 Liquid 0,60 to 0,50 to 0,80 to 0,020 0,025 0,80 to 0,004 0,18 0,009 20 2,5
0,80 1,10 1,20 1,20
Cr Solid 0,58 to 0,48 to 0,75 to 0,025 0,030 0,75 to 0,004 0,20 0,010 20 2,5 1080 9 320 to 360
0,82 1,12 1,25 1,25
R350 Liquid 0,72 to 0,15 to 0,70 to 0,020 0,025 ≤ 0,15 0,004 0,030 0,009 20 2,5
0,80 0,58 1,20
HT Solid 0,70 to 0,13 to 0,65 to 0,025 0,030 ≤ 0,15 0,004 0,030 0,010 20 2,5 1175 9 350 to 390
0,82 0,60 1,25
R350 Liquid 0,72 to 0,15 to 0,70 to 0,020 0,025 ≤ 0,30 0,004 0,030 0,009 20 2,5
0,80 0,58 1,20
LHT Solid 0,70 to 0,13 to 0,65 to 0,025 0,030 ≤ 0,30 0,004 0,030 0,010 20 2,5 1175 9 350 to 390
0,82 0,60 1,25
R370 Liquid 0,70 to 0,40 to 0,70 to 0,020 0,020 0,40 to 0,004 0,030 0,009 20 1,5 1.280 9 370 to 410
0,82 1,00 1,10 0,60
CrHT Solid 0,025 0,025 0,004 0,030 0,010 20 1,5
0,68 to 0,38 to 0,65 to 0,35 to
0,84 1,02 1,15 0,65
a
See 9.1.2.3.
b
See 9.1.2.2.
c
See Figure 8.
Table 4 — Maximum residual elements, % by mass
Cu +
Mo Ni Cu Sn Sb Ti Nb Others
10 Sn
R200, R220, R260, R260Mn 0,02 0,10 0,15 0,030 0,020 0,025 0,01 0,35 Cr + Mo + Ni + Cu + V : 0,35
R260Cr, R320Cr 0,02 0,10 0,15 0,030 0,020 0,025 0,01 0,35 Ni + Cu : 0,16
R350HT 0,02 0,10 0,15 0,030 0,020 0,025 0,04 0,35 Cr + Mo + Ni + Cu + V : 0,25
R350LHT; R370CrHT 0,02 0,10 0,15 0,030 0,020 0,025 0,04 0,35 Mo + Ni + Cu + V : 0,20
9.1.2.3 Determination of total oxygen content
9.1.2.3.1 General
Total oxygen content shall be determined in the liquid steel, following solidification of the sample, or
from the solid rail head, in the positions shown in Figure 2, and at the frequency shown in Table 2.
The results obtained shall comply with the values given in Table 3.
9.1.2.3.2 Preparation of the sample
The thickness of the transverse rail slice shall be 4 mm.
Samples shall be prepared in accordance with EN 10276-1.
9.1.2.3.3 Measurement
The measurement of total oxygen shall be made using an automatic machine.
9.1.3 Microstructure
9.1.3.1 General
Microstructures shall be determined at a magnification of x 500.
The microstructure shall be verified for R260Mn, R260Cr, R320Cr and heat-treated rails at the
frequency given in Table 2.
The testing position in the rail head shall be as shown in Figure 3.
9.1.3.2 Grades R200, R220
The microstructure shall be a mixture of pearlite and grain boundary ferrite. There shall be no
martensite, bainite or grain boundary cementite.
9.1.3.3 Grade R260, R260Mn, R260Cr
The microstructure shall be pearlitic but grain boundary ferrite may occur in these grades. The
maximum grain boundary ferrite permitted is shown in Figure 4. There shall be no martensite, bainite
or grain boundary cementite.
9.1.3.4 Grade R320Cr
The microstructure shall be fully pearlitic with no martensite, bainite or grain boundary cementite.
9.1.3.5 Grades R350HT, R350LHT, R370CrHT
The microstructure shall be pearlitic with no martensite, bainite or grain boundary cementite. The
maximum grain boundary ferrite permitted is shown in Figure 4.
9.1.4 Decarburization
The decarburization shall be checked at the frequency shown in Table 2. The decarburization depth
shall be assessed by means of a hardness test. After a minimum of preparation of the rail surface
(polishing) a hardness test according to the method indicated in 9.1.7 will be performed in three points.
None of the results of hardness obtained shall be lower than the minimum value specified of the grade,
reduced by 7 HBW (example: 253 HBW for grade R260).
If there are any doubts regarding the conformity with the requirements on decarburization,
alternatively to the hardness test, at the discretion of the manufacturer or on request of the purchaser,
metallographic investigations shall be carried out.
Photomicrographs showing the depth of decarburization allowed are shown in Figure 5. Figure 6
defines the rail head surface for decarburization checks.
No closed ferrite network shall be observed below 0,5 mm depth measured anywhere on the rail head
surface.
9.1.5 Oxide cleanness
Samples shall be prepared and assessed in accordance with EN 13674-1. Samples shall be taken from
one of the last blooms of the last heat of the sequence but from each sample 2 specimens shall be tested.
The total index K3 shall be less than 10.
The testing position in the rail head is shown in Figure 7.
9.1.6 Sulfur prints
Sulfur prints of transverse rail sections shall be prepared in accordance with ISO 4968 at the frequency
shown in Table 2.
All samples, including those intended for repeat test, shall be taken from outside the mixing zones of the
heat. When part or all of an adjacent heat has been withdrawn due to non-conformance, tests shall be
made in the mixing zones to determine the first conforming blooms.
The sulfur prints shall correspond to the requirements specified in EN 13674-1:2011+A1:2017,
Annex D.
NOTE EN 13674-1:2011+A1:2017, Figure D.13 does not apply to the profiles of EN 13674-2.
9.1.7 Hardness
Brinell hardness tests shall be carried out in accordance with EN ISO 6506-1 at the frequency shown in
Table 2. The test conditions shall be as follows:
— tungsten carbide ball;
— ball diameter 2,5 mm;
— load 1,839 kN;
— period of application 15 s.
Other measurement techniques, for example Rockwell or Vickers hardness testing, may be used, but in
case of dispute Brinell hardness testing in accordance with EN ISO 6506-1 shall be used.
The hardness values measured shall meet the requirements given in Table 5 for the relevant grade.
In the case of heat-treated rails, the following shall apply:
HBW > HBW + 0,3(HBW – HBW )
2 3 1 3
where
HBW , HBW and HBW are the mean hardness values at position 1, 2 or 3 respectively. Also the
1 2 3
difference between any of the three positions shall be no more than 30 HBW. The testing positions
are shown in Figure 8.
The hardness on the centre line of the head crown shall not vary by more than 30 HBW on any
individual rail.
For the steel grades R200, R220, R260, R260Cr, R260Mn and R320Cr the hardness shall only be tested
for position RS. For heat-treated rails hardness shall be tested at the positions 1 to 4 as shown in
Figure 8.
0,5 mm shall be removed from the running surface before a hardness impression is made.
Table 5 — Hardness testing positions and requirements
Rail steel grade
Position
R200 R220 R260, R260Mn, R320Cr R350HT R350LHT R370CrHT
R260Cr
Hardness (HBW)
a b b c
RS 200 to 240 220 to 260 260 to 300 320 to 360 350 to 390 350 to 390 370 to 410
1 ≥  340 ≥  340 ≥  360
2 ≥  331 ≥  331 ≥  350
d d d d
3 ≥  321 ≥  321 ≥  340
4 ≥  340 ≥  340 ≥  360
a
RS = Point on the centre line running surface.
b
If the hardness exceeds 390 HBW, the rail is acceptable provided the microstructure is confirmed to be pearlitic, and the
hardness does not exceed 405 HBW.
c
If the hardness exceeds 410 HBW, the rail is acceptable provided the microstructure is confirmed to be pearlitic, and the
hardness does not exceed 425 HBW.
d
Not relevant.
9.1.8 Tensile tests
9.1.8.1 General
The tensile test shall be carried out with the test frequency specified in Table 2. Test samples from the
rail shall be taken as given in Figure 3. Results obtained shall comply with the values given in Table 3.
9.1.8.2 Method of test
The manufacturer shall determine the tensile properties in accordance with EN ISO 6892-1 using a
proportional circular test piece of 10 mm diameter.
Before test
...