Welding head for rail welding

A welding head for welding the extremities of two sections of rail extending in a longitudinal direction, comprising:

• two half-heads aligned and slidable with respect to one another in said longitudinal direction, in which each half-head comprises grip means to grasp a respective one of said sections of rail;
• an electric welding circuit comprising at least two electrodes, each adapted to contact a respective one of said sections of rail;
• traction actuator means which extend in said longitudinal direction and are connected to the two half-heads for moving the two half-heads in said longitudinal direction toward one another;
• wherein said traction actuator means have a stroke sufficient to allow, during a cycle of welding said two sections of rail, simultaneous regulation of track tensions, and
• a cutting unit for removing excess material at the end of the welding operation, wherein said cutting unit is disposed between the half-heads and is moved independently of the half-heads by its own actuator mechanism.