Abstract: Rail vehicles have a brake linkage being acted on by a brake cylinder for acting on at least one wheel set of a bogie, truck or running gear of the rail vehicle through brake blocks having brake block shoes and brake block shoe inserts. A block brake for rail vehicles should be economical and be constructed in such a way that higher braking capacities can be achieved, that damage to the tires of the wheels of the wheel set is avoided and that wheel noise of the wheel sets is minimized. The block brake includes at least one rotationally symmetrical brake body being fixedly disposed on a wheel set shaft of the wheel set between the wheel discs of the wheel set. The acted-on brake block rests on an outer surface of the brake body.