AbstractFatigue‐induced clip fractures are the most common type of damage in railway systems, and they are exacerbated by rail corrugation. This research investigated the development of rail corrugation through long‐term measurements and examined the impact of rail corrugation on the fatigue life of e‐clips using a finite element model. The examination included different corrugation wavelengths, namely, short‐pitch corrugation (SPC), long‐pitch corrugation (LPC), and a new form of corrugation called superposed SPC and LPC. The results showed that increasing corrugation amplitude reduces an e‐clip's fatigue life and alters the region in the clip where fatigue damage occurs. A short corrugation wavelength shortens fatigue life. On railway tracks with superposed SPC and LPC, a significant increase in LPC amplitude sharply reduces a clip's fatigue life, even under minuscule SPC amplitude. Effective measures are proposed to prolong the fatigue life of e‐clips subjected to the effects of rail corrugation.