Abstract: The surface of the end of a short-style special section (AT) rail crushed and peeled after service for about 2 years. The crushing and peeling reasons of the AT rail were analyzed by means of macroscopic observation, chemical composition analysis, metallographic examination, hardness test and so on. The results show that the end of the AT rail experienced two times of induction heat treatments, the number of globular, punctuate and broken pearlite in the overlap area of the AT rail's heat affected zone was more, which led to low hardness and strength in the area, moreover, the hardness transition was uneven. Finally, the crushing and peeling failure of the end of the AT rail appeared.