Ultrasonic　guided　wave　is　a　recommending　tool　in　the　field　of　structural　inspection.　With　high-speed　railway　turning　into　the　trend　of　our　national　railway,　as　a　direct　facility　to　keep　it　operation　efficient　and　safe,　rail’s　qualities　are　guaranteed　necessarily.　Testing　rail　with　ultrasonic　guided　waves　was　public　acknowledged.　Therefore,　to　make　better　use　of　ultrasonic　guided　wave　for　nondestructive　testing　of　rail,　verify　the　feasibility　of　ultrasonic　sensor　position.　Finite　element　method　was　taken　to　simulate　ultrasonic　guided　wave　propagation　in　head,　web　and　base　of　rail　with　the　utilization　of　COMSOL.　Determine　the　central　frequency　of　guide　wave　excitation　via　dispersion　curve　and　characteristics　of　piezoelectric　transducer　(PZT).　On　the　basis　of　simulation　result　the　applicable　scheme　of　sensor　position　in　different　parts　of　rail　was　obtained.　©　2022,　The　Author(s),　under　exclusive　license　to　Springer　Nature　Singapore　Pte　Ltd.