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400 UHC® HSH® rails for Extreme Conditions

Designed to resist

Heavy Haul railroads are focusing on a long term perspective on increasing the annual throughput by raising axle loads, train length and train frequencies to utilize the maximum economic benefit. State-of-the-art steel technologies are needed in order to support our customers and further improve the economic efficiency. Rails with easy-to-weld steel designs offer robustness under harshest conditions and require less maintenance with longest service life time are designed by voestalpine for uncompromising heavy haul environments.

voestalpine Railway Systems manufactures these rails of the product line through its worldwide patented HSH® process under the brand 400 UHC® HSH® following a special metallurgic approach. Rails of this steel grade are produced in lengths of up to 120 m and are available in all rail profiles of various standards and specifications.
The voestalpine 400 UHC® HSH® rail grade is a fine-pearlitic heat-treated rail grade in accordance with EN 13674-1, with a minimum hardness of 400 BHN.

Depending on the respective customer needs and the very special conditions of a certain railway, the best material concept is identified and an optimum solution can be offered.

The newest generation of voestalpine Railway Systems' super premium product line provides highest resistance
against all degradation mechanisms prevalent in track.

The classic “state-of-the-art” solution for rail freight/heavy haul environments, exhibits a hyper-eutectoide ultra-fine-pearlitic heattreated microstructure. Already serving in tracks for more than 20 years with maximum customer benefit.

A new high-performance upgrade of the worldwide proven rail grade 400 UHC® HSH® featuring an even increased resistance against wear, corrugation and RCF, especially designed for uncompromising heavy haul deployment.

Especially developed to provide individually customized hardness profile while granting the same performance benefit from the outstanding super premium material concept.

Customer benefits

  • Significant reduction of rail maintenance costs due to excellent track performance
  • Significant multiplication of the operational rail service lifetime compared to other rail grades
  • Lowest life cycle costs for heavily loaded tracks
  • Easy and safe weldability due to the non-alloy steel design

Steel Technology

For all super premium rail steels the HSH® technology allows for highest weldabilty and toughness by minimizing the amount of alloying elements.

voestalpine PREMIUM SERVICES

voestalpine offers a unique portfolio of additional customer services including

Logistics

  • Our logistics team guarantees smooth rail delivery to its destination by optimization of the entire logistics chain. Our specialities are just-in-time deliveries to any construction site in Europe, as well as oversea deliveries.

Welding

  • Our experts from voestalpine Competence Center Welding (CCW) are constantly working jointly with renowned welding material suppliers to develop and improve rail welding technology.
  • Beside trainings in our plant as well as on site, CCW offers also welding inspection to ensure high initial quality of rail welds

Technical Support Team

Our customer service team assists you in questions of:

  • In-track performance evaluation
  • Whole track system optimization
  • Wheel – Rail interface optimization 
  • RAMS & LCC consulting