What weights and kinds of rails does IR use?
Broad Gauge The IRS standard for most mainline tracks is 52kg/m (really 51.89kg/m, 105lb/yd), and it allows 25-ton axle loads. Until about 1970, most sections had RBS standard rails of 44.7kg/m (90lb/yd). The RBS standard had been adopted in 1914, and allowed 22.5-ton axle loads at 100km/h. It is still found in many places. For sections with heavy traffic, the newer IRS standard rails are 60kg/m (really 60.34kg/m, 130.4lb/yd). A 62kg/m standard has been mooted. For BG branch lines, the commonly used rail weights are 37.2kg/m (75lb/yd), 42.2kg/m (85lb/yd), and 44.7kg/m (90lb/yd) (these are also being replaced now by the standard 52kg/m weight). See table below. Although rails allowing 22.5t or 25t loads are in place, as a matter of operating procedure goods wagons are currently [5/05] restricted to 20.3t axle load. There are proposals to raise this to 23t.
