A rail brake device for free rolling railway vehicles, comprising several brake units which are fixed to the track and which have a respective brake ram which protrudes out onto the path of the wheel flange of a passing wheel of a railway train. The brake ram is pressed downwards under the weight and by the speed of the wheel or wagon against a braking force that is dependent upon velocity and the force of an energy accumulator. On the brake arm (4), a downhold device (5) acts outside a pressure surface (head 12) which cooperates with the wheel flange. Said device can be driven and positioned by means of a drive motor. Each brake ram can be pressed downwards against the braking force of the damper and energy accumulator.
