Sourcing rails and track fittings from China
Railway and tramway track material from China, including switch blades, crossings, fish-plates, sole plates, sleepers, clips, grooved rails and used rails, pays 0% UK duty. New Vignole and other new rails are 0% only while the steel quota lasts, then 50%. No anti-dumping applies. Mainline track needs Network Rail product acceptance and interoperability rules.
Rails, crane rails, switch blades, crossings, fish-plates, sleepers and rail clips from China: 0% UK duty, 50% steel duty on new rails outside quota.
0% duty, except new rails outside quota
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, heading 7302 covers railway or tramway track construction material of iron or steel: rails, check-rails and rack rails, switch blades, crossing frogs, point rods and other crossing pieces, sleepers, fish-plates, chairs, sole plates, rail clips, bedplates, ties and other material for jointing or fixing rails. All 9 lines carried an ordinary duty of 0% on goods from China, and none carried an anti-dumping measure.
Three lines are under the UK steel measure: new Vignole rails of 36 kg per metre or more, those under 36 kg per metre, and other new rails (7302 10 50 00, which includes crane rails and check-rails). They pay 0% while the quota for countries without their own allocation has volume and 50% once it is used up; the tariff shows the same structure continuing from 1 October 2026. Current-conducting rails with non-ferrous parts, grooved tram rails, used rails, crossing pieces, fish-plates, sole plates and other fittings are outside the measure.
Rolling stock parts are in heading 8607, see our railway rolling stock parts guide, and concrete sleepers are not steel, so confirm the commodity code.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current-conducting rails with non-ferrous parts | 7302 10 10 00 | 0% | None |
| New Vignole rails, 36 kg/m or more | 7302 10 22 00 | 0%; 50% outside steel quota | None |
| New Vignole rails, under 36 kg/m | 7302 10 28 00 | 0%; 50% outside steel quota | None |
| Grooved rails | 7302 10 40 00 | 0% | None |
| Other new rails | 7302 10 50 00 | 0%; 50% outside steel quota | None |
| Used rails | 7302 10 90 00 | 0% | None |
| Switch blades, crossing frogs, point rods | 7302 30 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Fish-plates and sole plates | 7302 40 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Other (sleepers, clips, chairs, ties) | 7302 90 00 00 | 0% | None |
Network Rail acceptance, interoperability and standards
Track components for the national network need Network Rail product acceptance, and the Railways (Interoperability) Regulations 2011 apply to the infrastructure subsystem on the mainline network. Vignole rails of 46 kg/m and above are specified to BS EN 13674-1 by profile and steel grade (such as R260 or R350HT), and grooved tram rails to BS EN 14811.
Light rails for mines, sidings, cranes or industrial lines are bought to the operator's own specification, but still need mill certificates for chemistry, hardness and straightness.
Specifying rails and fittings
Specify the profile and standard, steel grade and hardness, length, straightness and flatness tolerances, end drilling and hole positions, heat treatment, marking and branding, fish-plate and clip compatibility with the rail profile, surface protection, and the inspection certificate type.
Worked duty example
An invented example rather than a quote: 300 tonnes of new Vignole rails of 36 kg per metre or more, commodity code 7302 10 22 00, bought for £210,000 free on board, with £18,000 of freight and insurance, so the customs value is £228,000. While the steel quota has volume the duty is 0%, so import VAT is 20% of £228,000, £45,600. Once the quota is used up, the 50% steel duty adds £114,000 and VAT rises to 20% of £342,000, £68,400. A VAT-registered buyer usually recovers the VAT, but the steel duty is a real cost, so check quota balance before shipping. The duty and VAT guide walks through the calculation.
Inspection checklist
Mill documents: check heat numbers, chemistry, tensile and hardness results and the inspection certificate type against the standard and grade ordered.
Geometry: measure profile, straightness, twist and end squareness on sampled lengths with templates and straightedges, and check drilled hole positions against the drawing.
Surface and marking: look for laps, seams, rolling marks and rust, and check rolled-in branding (grade, mill, year) and paint marking on every length.
What goes wrong
Rail orders fail on acceptance, straightness and duty. The mill cannot supply the documents Network Rail or the operator needs, rails bend in handling and arrive out of straightness, fittings do not match the rail profile, and the steel quota runs out before arrival so 50% applies.
Settle acceptance first, check quota balance, and inspect geometry before loading. See our quality inspection guide.
Cambridge China Bridge sources rails and track fittings for UK contractors, crane and industrial railway operators, checking the mill's approvals and test records first. See factory verification.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on steel rails from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, new Vignole rails (7302 10 22 00) are 0% within the steel quota and 50% once it is used up.
Are rail fittings under the steel measure?
No. Switch blades, crossings, fish-plates, sole plates, sleepers and clips carried 0% with no steel measure.
Which standard covers Vignole rails?
BS EN 13674-1 covers Vignole rails of 46 kg/m and above, by profile and steel grade.
Do rails for the national network need approval?
Yes. Track components need Network Rail product acceptance.