Kingrail supply railway wheelsets, such as wheelsets with wheels and axles, wiith axle boxes, bearings, gears.

A wheelset includes two wheels mounted on an axle, and its strength is a combination of the mechanical properties of the steel used, the design geometry, and the manufacturing processes (such as forging and heat treatment).

Higher grades like ER8, ER9, or CL60 are used for high-speed, heavy-haul, and metro applications where strength and fatigue resistance are critical.

Axles are often made from heat-treated carbon or low-alloy steels, with precise control of internal stress and surface hardness to prevent fatigue failure or axle fracture under dynamic loading.

• Typical axle load capacity:

  • Freight: 22.5 to 30 tons

  • Passenger (high-speed): 17 to 22.5 tons

• Wheel tread and rim strength must also handle:

  • Braking-induced thermal stress (especially in tread-braked wheels)

  • Impact loads from track irregularities

  • Long-term rolling contact fatigue (RCF)

✅ In Summary:

The strength of a railway wheelset is designed to:

• Support very high axle loads (up to 30 tons)

• Withstand high tensile and fatigue stress (Rm ~900 MPa)

• Survive 10–20+ years of service under millions of load cycles

• Resist cracking, wear, and thermal fatigue

• he standard for rail wheels varies depending on the region and application (freight, passenger, metro, or high-speed). These standards define design requirements, material properties, testing methods, and performance criteria for monobloc railway wheels (one-piece forged or cast steel wheels). Below are the most widely recognized international standards:

• . European Standard – EN 13262

  • Full Title: EN 13262 – Railway applications – Wheelsets and bogies – Wheels – Product requirements

  • Scope: Monobloc wheels for freight and passenger rolling stock

  • Key Areas Covered:

    • Steel grades: ER6, ER7, ER8, ER9

    • Mechanical properties: tensile strength, hardness, impact resistance

    • Wheel profile geometry (e.g., S1002)

    • Non-destructive testing (NDT)

    • Traceability and marking

  • Use: Widely adopted across Europe and some international projects

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