Steel manufacturer ArcelorMittal Poland is developing a new rail at its Dąbrowa Górnicza plant, designed for use on lines operating in extreme conditions. The R400HT model must withstand both very high loads and temperatures that can drop to minus 40°C, with the first deliveries currently being negotiated for Canada.
ArcelorMittal Poland has begun production of the R400HT rail, described as the most advanced grade specified by European standards in terms of hardness and wear resistance.
The product is intended for networks where conventional rails do not offer a sufficient service life, particularly on lines used for heavy freight transport and in mining operations.
High hardness throughout the rail head
The new rail undergoes a heat treatment designed to ensure high hardness both on the surface and deep within the rail head – the part that comes into direct contact with the train wheels.
This structure is designed to reduce wear caused by heavy loads and the repeated passage of heavy trains. Technical studies on steel grades for rails indicate that the R400HT has an abrasion resistance more than six times greater than that of the standard R260 grade, and its use is primarily intended for lines subject to very high loads.
“The rail grade we are introducing achieves exceptional hardness both on the surface and in the head section, which translates into outstanding performance under intensive operating conditions,” said Tomasz Wojciechowski, head of long products development at ArcelorMittal Poland.
The first rails could be heading to Canada
Target markets include Scandinavia and Canada, where the railway infrastructure must withstand both very low temperatures and high axle loads simultaneously.
One of the potential customers is ArcelorMittal’s mining division in the Canadian province of Quebec. Heavy trains carrying iron ore travel on its lines, and temperatures can drop to minus 40°C.
Work on developing the R400HT began in 2025. The company intends to complete the qualification tests by the end of this year and is simultaneously negotiating the delivery of a first batch to Canada.
“The introduction of this new class of rail into our portfolio is of strategic importance. It enables us to meet the requirements of our most demanding customers, as well as to participate in tenders where this specification is mandatory,” said Marek Kempa, director of the long products division at ArcelorMittal Poland.
Heat-treated rails, 120 m in length
The rails are produced at the heavy-section rolling mill in Dąbrowa Górnicza, one of only three facilities in the world capable of manufacturing rails 120 m in length. The long length reduces the number of welds and joints required when laying the track.
ArcelorMittal Poland previously introduced the R350HT grade into production, a rail with a heat-treated head and mechanical properties superior to those of conventional grades. The R400HT represents the next stage in the development programme for high-strength rails.
The company claims to be the only manufacturer in Europe and one of just three worldwide capable of producing heat-treated rails with a length of 120 m.
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