GOST R 51685-2013 PDF

Full title and description

GOST R 51685-2013 — Railway rails. General specifications (Russian: Рельсы железнодорожные. Общие технические условия). The standard establishes general technical requirements for the manufacture, dimensions, chemical and mechanical properties, heat treatment categories, tolerances, testing and marking of Vignole (flat-bottom) railway rails intended for mainline and industrial use.

Abstract

This national standard (adopted as GOST R 51685-2013) defined unified requirements for railway rails used on 1520 mm gauge track, including profile designations (for example P50, P65, P75 and related variants), quality categories, recommended steel grades, dimensional and straightness classes, hole/ending options, and mandatory inspection and testing methods. The 2013 edition was later withdrawn/replaced by an updated version (GOST R 51685-2022).

General information

• Status: Withdrawn / replaced by GOST R 51685-2022 (new version in force from 01 Aug 2023).
• Publication date: Designation year 2013; published 1 July 2014 (edition often cited as 2013/2014).
• Publisher: National Standard of the Russian Federation (Rosstandart / Национальный стандарт РФ).
• ICS / categories: Railway engineering; OCS / OKC / classification related to 45.080 (railway engineering — rails and components).
• Edition / version: GOST R 51685-2013 (original 2013 edition; subsequently superseded by GOST R 51685-2022).
• Number of pages: Approximately 121 pages (commonly listed in distributors’ catalogs).

Scope

Applies to Vignole (flat‑bottom) railway rails intended for use on broad‑gauge (1520 mm) railway tracks, including mainline, industrial and metro track applications. Covers product designation, permitted steel grades and heat‑treatment categories, geometric and mass tolerances, requirements for ends (holes or no holes), straightness and surface quality classes, and required inspection and testing procedures during manufacture and acceptance. (See the 2022 replacement for the most recent scope wording and amendments.)

Key topics and requirements

• Rail profile designations and dimensions (P50, P65, R65K, P75, etc.) and associated mass per metre classes.
• Quality and heat‑treatment categories (examples: B — advanced thermally strengthened, T1/T2 — thermally strengthened, H — non‑strengthened, DT — differentially heat‑strengthened).
• Permitted steel grades and chemical composition windows for different service categories (recommended grades used by Russian producers).
• Geometric tolerances: profile manufacturing accuracy classes, straightness classes, surface quality classes and mass tolerances.
• Length options and end preparations (rails delivered with or without bolt holes; common commercial lengths noted in trade and procurement records).
• Inspection and testing requirements: mechanical testing, chemical analysis, non‑destructive testing (including eddy‑current surface testing), static crack‑resistance tests and acceptance inspection procedures.
• Marking, packing and documentation for traceability and conformity assessment.

Typical use and users

Used by rail manufacturers, steel mills producing rails, track designers and constructors, railway infrastructure owners and maintenance organizations, acceptance and testing laboratories, metro and industrial railway operators, and procurement/specification teams responsible for specifying rails for new track or renewals. International buyers and export/import documentation often reference the GOST R designation for product conformity.

Related standards

Often referenced alongside or compared with: EN 13674‑1 (Rail — Part 1: Vignole rails for certain mass classes) — GOST R 51685 historically reflects technical alignment with EN 13674‑1:2011 (NEQ) in many technical details; GOST 15150 (environmental/climatic designations for equipment and materials); and the successor national text GOST R 51685‑2022 which supersedes the 2013 edition.

Keywords

rail, railway rail, Vignole rail, flat‑bottom rail, GOST R 51685, rail specification, P65, P50, R65K, heat treatment, steel grade, straightness class, eddy‑current testing, rail profile, GOST R 51685-2022.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: GOST R 51685-2013 is a Russian national standard titled "Railway rails. General specifications" that set out general technical requirements for the manufacture, properties and acceptance of Vignole (flat‑bottom) railway rails.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers rail profile designations and dimensions, steel grades and chemical/mechanical requirements, heat‑treatment categories, manufacturing tolerances (profile, straightness, mass), optional end preparations (bolt holes), mandatory testing and non‑destructive inspections, marking and documentation. For the most current technical text refer to the 2022 replacement.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Rail producers, track engineers, infrastructure owners, maintenance teams, procurement specialists and testing laboratories use it to specify and accept rails for mainline, metro and industrial applications. Exporters/importers of rails often reference the GOST designation in commercial documents.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The 2013 edition has been replaced—GOST R 51685-2022 is the newer national standard (published/entered into force in 2023) and should be consulted for the latest requirements and amendments.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: It sits within the body of railway track and components standards (ICS/OCS around 45.080) and is connected by references to related norms for environmental design (GOST 15150), testing methods and more detailed product or manufacturing standards. The 2022 edition continues that lineage.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Rail, railway rail, Vignole, flat‑bottom rail, P65, P50, R65K, heat treatment, steel grade, straightness class, non‑destructive testing, eddy‑current, GOST R 51685, GOST R 51685-2022.