OREANDA-NEWS.  EVRAZ ZSMK has successfully completed the qualification tests of its rails with Deutsche Bahn and received the HPQ certificate from the German operator. The document allows EVRAZ, after the completion of the ongoing track tests, to bid in Deutsche Bahn's tenders starting from 2017. 

The certificate covers the 60E2 rails both head-hardened and non-heat-treated.  EVRAZ ZSMK intends to start producing two more rail profiles for Deutsche Bahn shortly under the same certificate.

"This is a long-anticipated event for the Company, the result of serious and continuous work, says Ilya Shirokobrod, EVRAZ Vice President, Sales and Logistics. – This document grants access to tenders of the most exigent client - Deutsche Bahn and also other European railway companies.”

Certification involved two steps: qualification of 60E2 rails in the track system and audit of EVRAZ ZSMK quality management system by Deutsche Bahn inspectors.

In 2015 a pilot lot of 60E2 rails by EVRAZ ZSMK was delivered to Germany and laid in track of one of the German railways. DB engineers are observing the performance of the rails permanently. The tests will be soon completed and Deutsche Bahn will present its final report on the quality of EVRAZ rails. 

Furthermore EVRAZ ZSMK engineers have sent to Deutsche Bahn test laboratories rail samples to test the mechanical properties and hardness of the rails.