Rail Joints Market

Rail joints are also known as fishplate is a metal bar made of steel that is bolted to the ends of two rails to join them together in a track. The top and bottom edges are tapered inwards so it can easily wedge itself between the top and bottom of the rail when it is bolted into place. There are different types of rail joints such as common rail joint where a simple steel rail of regular shape having 4 holes, or 6 holes is bolted to the ends of two railway lines. The second type is compromise rail joint which is used to join two different kinds of rails making the joint section flat and smooth. The third type is joggled rail joint also known as the bulge rail joint which is used during joint maintenance or emergency repairs it has a unique shape that is used in broken welded rails or temporary repair of cracked welded joints with an emergency clamp. Further, the fourth type of rail joint is the insulated rail joint which is used in the electrical section of railway track where the insulation act as an electrical resistance preventing the electric transmission and occurrence of electrical leakage accidents. Thus, the rail joints increase the safety of trains running on the railway lines.

COVID-19 Impact Analysis

• Due to COVID-19, the government across all countries declared lockdown and various other restrictions. The imposed lockdown on the rail industry had disrupted the work of building railway lines and the demand for transportation via railway had also fallen. Moreover, due to social distancing norms and other restrictions, there was the unavailability of labor for working at the railway lines which further delayed the process. Thus, affecting the demand and supply for rail joints. Furthermore, the raw material required for the manufacturing of rail joints was also unavailable which disrupted the whole operation. The rail joint market is an evolving sector, but pandemic has weakened the sector.

Top Impacting Factors 

Huge government investment for railway development, increase in new railway line installation, and long service life, high load-bearing capacity, corrosion resistance & capability to handle extreme weather conditions boost the market growth.
However, increase in the number of railway accidents and sensitivity to chemicals & low transverse resistance hamper the growth.
Moreover, rise in demand for safe & secure transport systems, increase in periodic maintenance of railway lines, and rail joints are easy installation &cost-effective act as opportunities for the market growth.
Market Trends
New railway line installation 

• With the rise in the number of passengers and goods transportation via railway has increased. Thus, to meet the rising demand, railroad service providers are expanding their operations by installing new railroad lines. Moreover, the emergence of high-speed rails is expected to drive the rail joints market since insulated rail joints are used in the continuous welded rail (CWR) method for a specific distance. 
• For instance, the high-speed railway project between Jakarta and Bandung initiated by China and Indonesia is the first of its kind in South Asia is estimated to complete 25,000 km of railway lines by 2020. In addition, China’s Belt and Road initiative of $11 billion promotes the installation of railway lines in Malaysia through various land corridors which connect the east and west coasts. All these new projects will drive the growth of the rail joints market.

Periodic maintenance of railway lines

• All railway lines are inspected periodically for the smooth operation of railroad transportation. Periodic maintenance of railway lines is expected to drive the aftermarket sales of rail joints.
•  For instance, the maintenance cycle in some countries such as India, China, and Australia is around 7 to 15 days. In cases of emergency where railway lines needed to be rebuilt within a specific time, joggles rail joints are used on the cracked and fatigue rails to avoid any accidents. Thus, the periodic maintenance of railway lines can act as an opportunity for the growth of the rail joints market.    

Rail joints are cost-effective and easy to install

• Rail joints are easily installable onto the railway lines, and it holds the lines firmly. It is a simple mechanical linkage done via nuts and bolts. It is cheaper than the CWR method for rail joints. It does not require any special equipment and highly skilled labor for installation. Thus, it will promote demand for the product.

Key Benefits of the Report

• This study presents the analytical depiction of the global rail joints market along with the current trends and future estimations to determine the imminent investment pockets.
• The report presents information related to key drivers, restraints, and opportunities along with challenges of the global rail joints market.
• The current market is quantitatively analyzed to highlight the global rail joints market growth scenario.
• The report provides detailed global rail joints market analysis based on competitive intensity and how the competition will take shape in coming years.

Questions Answered in the Report

• Which are the leading market players active in the global rail joints market?
• What would be the detailed impact of COVID-19 on the market?
• What current trends would influence the market in the next few years?
• What are the driving factors, restraints, and opportunities in the global rail joints market?
• What are the projections for the future that would help in taking further strategic steps? 

 Rail Joints Market Report Highlights