Sourcing railway crossings and frogs from China
Railway crossing frogs and other crossing pieces from China carry 0% UK duty under 7302 30 00 00, with no listed trade remedy. Mainline use needs Network Rail product acceptance and compliance with railway interoperability rules. Agree the crossing drawing and acceptance evidence before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources railway crossings and frogs.
Duty on railway crossings and frogs
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 7302 covers specialised railway or tramway track construction material of iron or steel. Crossing frogs, other crossing pieces, switch blades and point rods share code 7302 30 00 00. The table separates these goods descriptions within the same commodity line.
For goods from China, this line carries 0% duty. The supplied tariff record lists no steel measure, anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or import control for it. Ask your customs broker whether this heading is covered by the UK carbon border adjustment mechanism and when any obligations apply. Ask the factory for emissions data if relevant when planning future shipments.
Confirm the commodity code against the drawings and the goods actually supplied. Separately supplied rails and mounting fittings can have different classifications. See the wider rails and track fittings guide and the import duty and VAT guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crossing frogs | 7302 30 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the crossing geometry and railway application
Give the factory the operator's drawing and revision, rail profile, track gauge, crossing angle, handedness, frog nose geometry, flangeway dimensions and mounting-hole positions. State whether the crossing is fixed or has a movable nose, whether it is cast or fabricated, and which adjoining rails and fittings it must match.
Specify material grade, heat treatment, hardness, dimensional tolerances and the required inspection records. Agree the scope and acceptance criteria for crack testing, weld inspection and trial assembly. Ask for heat or casting identification that connects each delivered component to its material and test records.
For track components intended for the national network, confirm with the operator and relevant rail authority whether Network Rail product acceptance and railway interoperability rules apply. Structural subsystems must also be technically compatible with their intended rail system. Before ordering, agree with the operator which acceptance documents the crossing must support; check the factory's relevant records through factory verification.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative replacement batch of crossing frogs, not a quotation under 7302 30 00 00, invoiced at £32,000 free on board, with £4,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £36,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £36,000, so it is £7,200. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Geometry: check the frog nose, wing-rail alignment, flangeways, crossing angle, handedness and mounting holes against the approved drawing.
Material records: match heat or casting marks to the supplied chemistry, hardness, heat-treatment and agreed crack-testing records.
Assembly: check mating rail profiles, joint faces and supplied fittings through the agreed trial assembly; record gaps and any forced fit.
Arrival condition: check for nose damage, cracks, distortion, corrosion and missing parts after unpacking. Photograph discrepancies before installation and use the quality inspection guide to prepare the inspection brief.
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What goes wrong
A crossing can match the overall outline yet have the wrong handedness, rail interface or flangeway geometry. Other problems include a damaged frog nose, casting defects, distorted welded assemblies and material records that cannot be matched to the delivered components.
A supplier's previous railway order does not establish acceptance for your installation. Settle the operator's documentation expectations before manufacture, approve the drawing revision, and compare the finished crossing with its mating parts before dispatch. Protect the nose and joint faces during packing and handling.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For repeat volumes, see container programmes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on railway frogs from China?
Crossing frogs and other crossing pieces under 7302 30 00 00 carry 0% duty in the supplied tariff record. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty is listed for this line.
Can Chinese railway crossings be used on the national network?
Confirm with the operator and relevant rail authority whether Network Rail product acceptance and railway interoperability rules apply to the intended installation. Agree the acceptance route and supporting documents with the operator before ordering.
What should I put on a crossing frog drawing?
Include rail profile, track gauge, crossing angle, handedness, nose and flangeway geometry, mounting holes, material, heat treatment and tolerances. Identify the adjoining parts and drawing revision.
How do I inspect a crossing frog on arrival?
Check nose damage, cracks, distortion, flangeways, hole positions and mating rail profiles. Match component marks to material and inspection records, and document discrepancies before installation.