Abstract: A system for elastically fastening rails mounted on underlying cross ties. The foot of the rail is clamped by elastically fastening metallic rail spikes anchored in the cross tie. The rail spikes have a shaft portion and a head portion eccentrically arranged thereon, as well as a plastic element arranged in an electrically insulating manner. This fastening system also has a component linkable to the spike for impressing a permanent bending moment on the shaft portion in all stress phases and for permanently clamping the rail spike. This type of fastening system is suitable both for wooden and concrete cross ties. This system may also include a dowel to anchor the rail spike within the cross tie. This invention also impresses a permanent bending stress on the shaft of the rail foot, so that the rail spike extraction forces can be set at a higher level than is normally obtained.