The article presents an overview of modern steel used in rail transport. Directions for the development of materials, technologies and constructions used in the manufacture of rail vehicles are, on the one hand, determined by the technical and economic requirements of industry and, on the other, by the continued emphasis of environmentalists on reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. This generates innovation in the use of modern materials, processing methods and new design solutions and results in reduced vehicle weight. More bold forecasts today show that at the current pace of technology development, in the near future the mass of the vehicle will reduce by an average of 30%. Observing the trends and pace of rail transport development, it can be predicted that existing restrictions on the use of modern materials, such as high prices, technological conditions and difficult automation of large-scale production, can be predicted.