Key:railway:track_class
 railway:track_class
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| Description |
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Used to indicate rail quality or load class. 
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| Group: railways |
| Used on these elements |
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| Useful combination |
| Status: de facto |
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The track class of the railway line can be used to indicate two main features of the tracks depending on the geographical area.
This key is one of the tagging page for railways.
Track class in the United States and Canada
In the United States and Canada, the usage of this tag requires the usage of railway:traffic_mode=* in order to properly discern the value of maxspeed=* for freight vs passenger traffic
United States
In the United States, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has developed a system of classification for track quality. The class of a section of track determines the maximum possible running speed limits and the ability to run passenger trains. For further details check the Wikipedia page
| Track type | Freight | Passenger |
|---|---|---|
| Excepted | <10 mph (<16 km/h) | not allowed |
| Class 1 | 10 mph (16 km/h) | 15 mph (24 km/h) |
| Class 2 | 25 mph (40 km/h) | 30 mph (48 km/h) |
| Class 3 | 40 mph (64 km/h) | 60 mph (97 km/h) |
| Class 4 | 60 mph (97 km/h) | 80 mph (129 km/h) |
| Class 5 | 80 mph (129 km/h) | 90 mph (145 km/h) |
| Class 6 | 110 mph (177 km/h) | |
| Class 7 | 125 mph (201 km/h) | |
| Class 8 | 160 mph (257 km/h) | |
| Class 9 | 220 mph (354 km/h) | |
Canada
The track class speed limits in Canada are set by Transport Canada, and are nearly identical to the track classes set by the FRA in the United States. Track speed limits in Canada are set in mph (as in the UK and the US), except urban railway systems such as subways, light rail and streetcars/trams, which use km/h. Classes used are excepted up to class 5; an additional class, class 6 (maximum speed 110 mph, same as FRA class 6) was previously added to accomodate higher-speed services (such as an upgrade of VIA Rail's Windsor-Quebec City Corridor to allow higher-speed service), but no tracks have been designated as such, and the highest permissible speed limit in Canada remains at 100 mph on VIA Rail LRC passenger trains on class 5 track. For further details check the Wikipedia page.
| Track type | Freight | Passenger |
|---|---|---|
| Excepted track | 10 mph (16 km/h) | Forbidden |
| Class 1 | 10 mph (16 km/h) | 15 mph (24 km/h) |
| Class 2 | 25 mph (40 km/h) | 30 mph (48 km/h) |
| Class 3 | 40 mph (64 km/h) | 60 mph (97 km/h) |
| Class 4 | 60 mph (97 km/h) | 80 mph (129 km/h) |
| Class 5 | 80 mph (129 km/h) | 95 mph (153 km/h) (LRC trains: 100 mph (160 km/h) |
Track class in Europe
In Europe, this key is used to indicate the class of axle load and metre load as of the EN15528 directive.
The letter in first position indicates the axle load limit and the following number indicates the metre load limit. There are some variants such as the M in second position that refer to some particular German standards. There are also cases of the class followed by L, common in Italy, that refer to some punctual limitations of the speed, mostly on viaducts, even if the train is within the allowed class.
Usually, a wagon loaded to exceed the class of the railway can't be used and, unless with a special authorization, must be unloaded to comply with the railway limitations.
Some examples of codes:
| Class | Axle load | Metre load | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 16,0 t | 5,0 t/m | |
| B1 | 18,0 t | 5,0 t/m | |
| B2 | 6,4 t/m | ||
| C2 | 20,0 t | 6,4 t/m | |
| C3 | 7,2 t/m | ||
| C3L | Same as C3 but with possible limitations of speed in some points of the track[2] | ||
| C4 | 8,0 t/m | ||
| CE | 20,0 t | 8,0 t/m | German standard[3] |
| CM2 | 21,0 t | 6,4 t/m | |
| CM3 | 21,0 t | 7,2 t/m | |
| CM | 21,0 t | 8,0 t/m | |
| D2 | 22,5 t | 6,4 t/m | |
| D3 | 7,2 t/m | ||
| D4 | 8,0 t/m | Standard for many new railways in Europe and main freight corridors. | |
| D4L | Same as D4 but with possible limitations of speed in some points of the track[2] | ||
| E4 | 25,0 t | 8,0 t/m | eg. some broad-gauge railway lines in Poland[4] |
| E5 | 8,8 t/m | Not yet in use | |
| F | 27,5 t | ||
| G | 30,0 t |
Further informations on the Wikipedia page (in German, or other languages, but currently not available in English)
Finland
In Finland, this key is used to indicate the class of track as defined by the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency (FTIA).
| Class | EN 15528 equivalent | Rail type | Sleeper type | Ballast | Speed limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | C4 | K30, K33 | wooden | gravel | 70 km/h |
| B1 | D4 | K43, 54E1, K60, 60E1 | wooden | gravel | 100 km/h |
| B2 | D4 | K43, K60 | wooden, concrete | ballast | 110 km/h |
| C1 | D4 or E4 | 54E1 | wooden, concrete (before 1987) | ballast | 180 km/h |
| C2 | D4 or E4 | 54E1 | concrete (1987 and after) | ballast | 200 km/h |
| D | D4 or E4 | 60E1 | concrete | ballast | 220 km/h |
Sources of information for mapping
- France : p212 https://www.sncf-reseau.com/medias-publics/2024-01/drr_2015_annexes_compilees_0.pdf?VersionId=VleEjMuiECziWQgKRMUVUO6UDXRKOSA2
- Finland: Railway Network Statement published by FTIA. https://vayla.fi/en/transport-network/data/maps-charts Open the Railway network statement thematic map. Under side menu open Railway network maps -> Track classifications and enable Superstructure class layer.
Sources
- ↑ A. Classes of track: Operating Speed Limits, Rules Respecting Track Safety (2023). Transport Canada
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peso_per_asse
- ↑ https://de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streckenklasse
- ↑ Network Statement 2024/2025, 2.4. Classification of railway line sections. PKP PLK
- ↑ https://www.doria.fi/handle/10024/173531, Railway Network Statement 2021. FTIA, p. 122.
- ↑ https://www.doria.fi/handle/10024/189945, Railway Network Statement 2025. FTIA, p. 129.