Rubber Pad For Turnout

The Rubber Pad for Turnout is a specially engineered railway component designed to provide elasticity, vibration damping, and load distribution for turnout (rail switch and crossing) systems. Installed beneath the rails in the turnout zone, it plays a crucial role in enhancing stability, reducing noise, and prolonging the service life of both rails and fastening components. Manufactured from high-quality natural and synthetic rubber, the pad offers excellent resilience, wear resistance, and long-term durability even under complex stress conditions.

Each Rubber Pad for Turnout is produced through precision molding and vulcanization processes to ensure consistent elasticity, dimensional accuracy, and superior mechanical strength. Its robust design effectively absorbs impact forces caused by train wheel transitions through the turnout area, minimizing stress on sleepers, fastening assemblies, and ballast. The pad is available in various sizes, hardness levels, and profiles to fit different turnout structures and rail types, such as P50, P60, UIC54, and UIC60. Engineered for long service life, it performs reliably under heavy axle loads, temperature fluctuations, and challenging field environments.

Function & Application
The Rubber Pad for Turnout serves multiple essential functions in railway track systems, particularly in turnout sections where dynamic loads, vibration, and impact are higher than on straight tracks. Its primary purpose is to provide an elastic interface between the rail and the sleeper, effectively reducing impact and vibration during train passage through switches and crossings. This cushioning effect prevents localized stress concentration, minimizes rail wear and sleeper cracking, and helps maintain stable track geometry over time.

By evenly distributing the load, the pad enhances the turnout’s mechanical performance and extends the lifespan of critical components such as rail fastenings, switch rails, and crossings. It also reduces structure-borne noise and vibration transmission to surrounding areas, improving passenger comfort and environmental quality, especially in urban and suburban applications. The product’s anti-slip surface and high tear resistance ensure firm positioning and stable performance under heavy dynamic forces.

The Rubber Pad for Turnout is widely applied in high-speed railways, heavy-haul lines, metro systems, light rail networks, and standard-gauge mainlines. It is compatible with different sleeper materials including concrete, wood, and composite types. The pad can be easily installed during turnout assembly or retrofitted during maintenance operations without requiring specialized tools. Its weather-resistant and anti-aging properties make it suitable for long-term outdoor exposure in all climates—from hot, arid deserts to cold, humid regions.

In compliance with international standards such as UIC, AREMA, and EN, the Rubber Pad for Turnout can be customized in hardness, thickness, and dimensions according to specific design and operational requirements. It is also environmentally friendly, as it is made from recyclable materials and supports sustainable railway development goals.

In summary, the Rubber Pad for Turnout is an essential component for ensuring smooth, stable, and reliable performance in railway turnout zones. By providing effective vibration reduction, load distribution, and wear protection, it enhances operational safety, reduces maintenance costs, and extends the lifespan of critical rail infrastructure—making it an ideal solution for modern, high-performance railway systems.

I. Overview of Railway Track Padding

Rubber track pads (hereinafter referred to as “rubber pads”) are critical components in railway track structures. Installed between rails and concrete sleepers, their primary functions include:

- Absorbing high-speed vibrations and impacts generated by passing vehicles to protect the subgrade and sleepers

- Providing electrical insulation for signaling systems Additionally, due to prolonged exposure to atmospheric conditions, rubber pads must exhibit excellent resistance to natural aging, cold temperatures, and heat. Rubber pads used in subways feature superior vibration damping and low-noise performance.

II. Characteristics of Railway Track Padding

1. Strong shock absorption, anti-aging properties, wear resistance, stability, and resistance to high and low temperatures. Products combine natural rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, neoprene, HDPE, EVA, and high-density polyethylene. They exhibit high elasticity and resist deformation or fracture across various temperatures.

2. Extended service life with low maintenance and replacement costs.

3. Comprehensive range of models suitable for laying various rails (43kg, 50kg, 60kg) and sleepers (wooden, concrete).

4. Excellent load-bearing capacity, vibration damping, and insulation properties. Highly wear-resistant with minimal compression deformation, superior rigidity, aging resistance, and no mud displacement. Long service life and easy installation. Railway rubber pads significantly enhance rolling stock transport capacity, reduce crossing maintenance frequency, and prevent traffic accidents caused by stalled vehicles.

5. Rubber pads offer a service life exceeding three times that of traditional track plates. Testing confirms stable performance without deformation under applied pressures exceeding 80 tons. Manufactured primarily from rubber using scientific formulations and advanced production techniques, these pads meet railway speed enhancement and environmental requirements while boosting locomotive transport capacity.

Our factory is equipped with multiple guide rail pad production lines featuring machinery for machining, injection molding, rubber refining, vulcanization, forming, and inspection. We have our own rail pad development engineers, designing, producing and inspecting. What’s more, rail pads for high-peed rail are our featured products, including both the elastic rubber plates and height adjustment pads.

The Following are Rubber Rail Pads Parameters：