Contact Rails and Insulators

Contact Rails

There are three basic contact rail systems in worldwide use today, and L.B. Foster Transit Products can provide whichever fits your system best. Each has its own unique advantages.

Steel Rail/Aluminum Composite Rail

This option consists of aluminum strips fastened to the webbing of conventional or specially designed steel rail. The steel rail provides the height, wear surface, and base; the aluminum strip provides high conductivity. The steel and aluminum elements are joined by Huck-type fasteners assuring good steel-to- aluminum contact.

Aluminum Rail

Aluminum rail is today's most advanced power rail, providing the best available electrical performance per pound of installed weight. The aluminum body is attached to a stainless steel wear strip. The aluminum provides high conductivity, while the stainless steel provides collector shoe wear capability matching that of steel rail.

Non-composite Steel Rail

Traditional non-composite steel rail, of course, has the longest performance record and has served reliably on many systems for over fifty years. At best, however, its electrical performance is half as good as the newer and more advanced systems described above. In addition, steel rail's weight per foot is greater as compared to the other two systems. Customers include virtually all North American heavy rail transit systems.

Discover the benefits of our contact rail's extraordinary performance and economy can bring to your transit operation.

Contact Rail Insulators

L.B. Foster Transit Products has both fiberglass and porcelain insulators for all types of transit and railroad applications. Contact us for any of your insulator installations, whether it be top running, under running or side running contact rail system.

We can offer either stock insulators or develop one specific to your application. Customers include virtually all North American heavy rail transit systems.

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