Guard rail (rail transport)

This article is about railway infrastructure. For highway infrastructure, see Guard rail.
Guard rails at Diêu Trì railway station, Vietnam
This curved track in Myanmar, near Pekon, includes a guard rail on the inside rail of the curve

In rail transport, guard rails or check rails are rails used in the construction of the track, placed parallel to regular running rail to keep the wheels of rolling stock in alignment to prevent derailment. They are generally used along areas of restricted clearance, such as a bridge, trestle, tunnel, or level crossing. They also help to minimize damage to the structure and allow easier post-accident cleanup.