Application of different materials of railway pillow plank

Material: Traditional wooden pillow boards are usually made of preservative wood (such as oak, cypress, etc.) to improve durability and corrosion resistance.
Applications: Wooden sleeper boards are still widely used in many rail systems, especially on light rail, local rail and secondary rail lines. They are relatively light, easy to install and replace, and are a cost-effective option for light trains and low-frequency used railways.

Material: Steel pillow boards are made of steel, usually hot rolled steel or prestressed concrete steel.
Application: Steel pillow board is mainly used in heavy-haul railways, high-speed railways and trunk lines requiring higher carrying capacity and long-term use. Their main advantages are high strength, good durability, and the ability to withstand large cargo trains and high frequency of operation.

Material: Concrete sleeper boards are made of precast concrete and usually include steel reinforcement.
Application: Concrete wooden planks are gradually replacing wooden planks for most modern railway systems, especially urban rail transit and high-speed railways. They have excellent durability, shock resistance and require little maintenance, but are costly to install and replace.

Material: Plastic composite pillow wood is usually made of glass fiber reinforced plastic or other high strength plastics.
Application: This type of pillow board has begun to appear in recent years and has not been widely used in large-scale railway systems. They are primarily used on experimental railways and in specific environments, such as wet areas or where electrical isolation is required.