Features of the technology used to make rail steel at the EVRAZ ZSMK combine are discussed along with the requirements on the steel’s contents of residual elements. A description is given of the step-by-step introduction of a process for sorting scrap to make rail steel, the sorting being based on the scrap’s content of residual elements. A comparative analysis is made of changes in the technical-economic indices of rail-steel production before and after the introduction of the sorting operation and the reasons for those changes are explained. The cost-effectiveness of the measures that were implemented is also evaluated.