Dąbrowa Górnicza, July 23, 2026 – ArcelorMittal Poland has begun implementing a new generation of railway rail designed for some of the world's most demanding operating conditions. The company is developing R400HT, the hardest and most wear-resistant rail grade defined under European standards, strengthening its position in the premium rail market.

The new rail has been engineered to deliver exceptional hardness throughout both the rail head surface and its cross-section, allowing it to withstand significantly higher loads and wear than conventional rail steels. According to the company, the product is intended for heavy-duty rail networks where standard grades do not provide sufficient durability.

"The new rail grade achieves exceptional hardness both on the surface and throughout the rail head, translating into outstanding performance under intensive operating conditions," said Tomasz Wojciechowski, Head of Product Development for Long Products at ArcelorMittal Poland. "Customers in Poland are interested in this product, but demand is particularly strong in markets such as Scandinavia and Canada, where rail infrastructure must operate in extremely low temperatures and under heavy loads."

One of the project's key targets is ArcelorMittal's mining operations in Quebec, Canada, where railway lines transport iron ore under temperatures that can fall to -40°C.

Development work on the new rail grade began in 2025. The company expects to complete qualification testing later this year while simultaneously negotiating the delivery of an initial shipment to Canada.

"For us, introducing this rail grade is a strategic milestone," said Marek Kempa, Managing Director of Long Products at ArcelorMittal Poland. "It enables us to meet the requirements of our most demanding customers while qualifying for tenders where this specification is mandatory. The project further strengthens our position in the high-performance railway rail segment."

ArcelorMittal Poland is Europe's only producer—and one of just three manufacturers worldwide—capable of producing 120-metre heat-treated railway rails, supplying infrastructure projects across international markets.