Rail Systems for Ports

Inform Rail supplies crane rail systems for Australian ports and container terminals, from ship-to-shore and stacking crane runways to shiploaders, slipways and wharf equipment, with complete fastening systems and stock in Brisbane and Cairns.

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Port Rail Systems

Crane Rail Supply for Ports and Terminals Across Australia

Port and terminal equipment places the highest demands of any application on crane rail. Ship-to-shore cranes, rail mounted stacking cranes and shiploaders concentrate very high dynamic wheel loads on the runway, cycle continuously, and run in a marine environment where downtime on a berth is measured in vessel delays.

Inform Rail supplies the rail and the complete fastening system for these runways: heavy DIN 536 crane rail from A75 to A120, CR73 and 86kg (MRS86) sections for shiploaders and wharf equipment, bolted and welded clips, sole plates, elastic pads, undergrout, fishplates and buffers, matched to the crane manufacturer's specification and the support system beneath the rail.

We source from qualified international mills and specialist European rail system manufacturers, hold stock in Brisbane and Cairns, and supply project quantities to ports nationwide. For renewals on operating terminals, rail can be cut to length and pre-drilled to match existing fastening patterns, with delivery staged around shutdown windows.

Port Supply at a Glance

EquipmentSTS cranes, RMG and ASC stacking cranes, shiploaders, stacker reclaimers, slipways, wharf and portal cranes
RailA75, A100, A120, CR73, 86kg (MRS86), other profiles on request
SystemsContinuous and discrete support on concrete, steel girder, ballasted sleeper track
ComponentsClips, sole plates, pads, grout, fishplates, buffers, concrete sleepers
DispatchBrisbane and Cairns stock, project supply Australia-wide
Applications

Port Equipment We Supply Rail For

Every rail-mounted machine on a port runs on a runway designed around its wheel loads, span and duty cycle. We supply rail and fastening systems across the full range of port and terminal equipment.

Ship-to-Shore Cranes

Quay cranes carry the heaviest wheel loads on the port. Waterside and landside runways typically run heavy A-series rail on continuously supported systems set into the quay deck.

RMG and ASC Stacking Cranes

Rail mounted gantry and automated stacking cranes run long parallel runways through the container yard, on founded concrete or on ballasted concrete sleeper track where ground conditions demand it.

Shiploaders and Unloaders

Bulk berth machines commonly run CR73 or 86kg (MRS86) rail with matched plates, clips and anchors, engineered for high wheel loads and long travel in exposed marine conditions.

Stacker Reclaimers

Stockyard machines at bulk ports run standard or crane rail sections on long yard runways, often with head hardened rail where cycles and abrasive material accelerate wear.

Mobile Harbour and Portal Cranes

Rail-running portal and semi-portal cranes on general cargo and multipurpose berths, with rail and fastening systems matched to the wharf structure.

Slipways and Shiplifts

Slipway and shiplift track including replacement of older imperial and out-of-production sections, matched to existing cradle wheels and fastening details.

Terminal and Siding Track

Standard rail for terminal rail sidings, transfer tracks and wagon handling areas, supplied to Australian standard specifications.

Wharf and Workshop Equipment

Runways for maintenance workshops, transfer cars and ancillary rail-mounted plant across the port estate, from light rail through to heavy crane rail.

Rail Support Systems

Four Ways to Support a Port Crane Rail

The support system beneath the rail matters as much as the rail itself. The right arrangement depends on the wheel loads, the structure and the ground beneath it.

System
Construction
Best Suited To
Continuous support on concrete
Rail on a continuous steel sole plate over a full-length grout bed, often within a channel in the quay deck. Where wheel loads are well below rail capacity, wide-foot A-series rail can be anchored directly through the drilled rail foot over a continuous grout underlay.
Ship-to-shore and stacking crane runways with high dynamic wheel loads, new quay construction and major renewals.
Discrete support on concrete
Rail on individual steel support plates or rail chairs at roughly 500mm to 1000mm centres, each levelled and grouted separately. Supports can be cast in with the deck reinforcement during construction.
Runways where continuous support is unnecessary or impractical, and structures with defined support points.
Steel girder
Rail fastened to a steel runway beam with adjustable clips, usually welded series, with or without an elastic pad between rail and beam. Clip assemblies can be shop-welded before erection.
Elevated runways, wharf structures and workshop buildings where the runway is a structural steel beam.
Ballasted track on concrete sleepers
Rail fixed to precast concrete sleepers with spring clips and elastic pads, set in a compacted ballast bed on prepared ground. The track is levelled and tamped, and can be surfaced over with asphalt or paving.
Container yards and bulk facilities on reclaimed or settlement-prone ground, where an adjustable track beats a rigid founded beam.

Not sure which system suits your runway? Send us the crane specification, wheel loads and structure details and we'll advise on a practical arrangement. For sleeper track, see our concrete sleepers page.

Complete Supply

Everything Between the Crane and the Quay

A port crane runway is a system, not a rail. We supply every component matched to the profile and the support arrangement.

Crane Rail

DIN 536 A-series from A75 to A120, CR73 and 86kg (MRS86), sourced from qualified international mills with mill certification and pre-shipment inspection available.

Rail Clips

Bolted and welded clips sized to the rail profile and lateral loads, including M-series welded clips and CL and CLX bolted ranges.

Sole Plates and Anchors

Continuous and discrete sole plates fabricated and drilled to the design bolt pattern, with anchor systems to suit the deck construction.

Elastic Pads

Rail pads under the rail foot to distribute load, reduce vibration and protect the rail seat, matched to profile and wheel load.

Grout and Levelling

High-strength undergrout for continuous and discrete systems, giving full bearing between the sole plate and the structure.

Fishplates, Joints and Buffers

Fishplates and jointing components for bolted joints, supply support for welded joints, and end-of-travel buffers to the runway design.

FAQ

Port Rail Systems: Common Questions

What crane rail profiles are used in ports?
Ship-to-shore and rail mounted stacking cranes typically run on heavy DIN 536 profiles such as A100 and A120, matched to the crane manufacturer's wheel load specification. Shiploaders, ship unloaders and wharf equipment often run on CR73 or 86kg (MRS86) crane rail. Lighter quayside and workshop equipment may use A75 or smaller. The governing inputs are the maximum wheel load, duty cycle and the support system beneath the rail. Send Inform Rail the crane specification or drawings for advice on the right profile.
What is a continuously supported crane rail system?
In a continuously supported system the rail bears on a continuous steel sole plate over a full-length grout bed, often set within a concrete channel in the quay deck. Because the rail is supported along its entire length, this arrangement handles the high dynamic wheel loads of ship-to-shore and stacking cranes better than point supports. Where the applied wheel load is well below the rail's capacity, wide-foot A-series rail can instead be anchored directly to the concrete through holes drilled in the rail foot, over a continuous grout underlay.
What is a discretely supported crane rail system?
A discretely supported system carries the rail on individual steel support plates or rail chairs spaced at roughly 500mm to 1000mm centres, each grouted and levelled separately. Supports can be cast into the deck reinforcement during construction. It suits runways where full continuous support is not required or where the structure makes a continuous sole plate impractical.
Can crane rail be installed on ballast at a port?
Yes. Ballasted crane track runs the rail on concrete sleepers set in a compacted ballast bed. It is widely used at container terminals and bulk facilities on reclaimed or settlement-prone ground, because the track can be re-tamped and re-levelled as the ground moves rather than requiring a rigid founded structure. Heavy duty precast concrete crane track sleepers carry wheel loads up to 450 kN as standard, with higher ratings available on request.
Do you supply complete port crane rail packages?
Yes. Inform Rail supplies the full system matched to the rail profile and support arrangement: crane rail, bolted or welded clips, sole plates, elastic pads, undergrout, fishplates and jointing components, buffers and concrete sleepers where the design calls for them. Components are matched to the crane manufacturer's specification and the runway design.
Can you support rail renewal on an operating terminal?
Yes. For renewals on live berths and stacking yards, rail can be supplied cut to length and pre-drilled to match the existing fastening pattern, with delivery staged around shutdown windows. Inform Rail can also help identify worn or older rail sections and match a current equivalent profile with compatible fishplates and fastenings. Stock is held in Brisbane and Cairns, with project supply sourced internationally where volumes require it.

Planning a Port Rail Project?

Send us the crane specification, drawings or runway details and we'll come back with a practical supply option.

Get a Fast Quote Call (07) 3339 3085

Let's talk: (07) 3339 3085

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