A rail fastening plate used to secure a railway rail to a sleeper or other rail foundation uses a spring clip. The plate includes a base section adapted to be secured to a rail foundation by securing bolts passing through each of a plurality of apertures in the base section. A pair of spaced raised ribs upstanding from an upper surface of the base section, the ribs being spaced apart so as to receive a railway rail therebetween. Channels cut across the ribs are shaped to include narrowed outer sections and a wider central section. The narrowed sections act as a gate through which the clip must pass and which serves to retain the clip in position.