A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes a gradient coil system. The gradient coil system comprises an inner coil configuration (1,2,3) and an outer coil configuration (4,5,6) positioned substantially coaxially with said inner coil configuration (1,2,3). Both coil configurations are attached to a tubular body (7) located between said two coil configurations (1,2,3,4,5,6) and extend substantially coaxially with both of the coil configurations. The tubular body (7) comprises stainless steel rods (10) positioned substantially in an axial direction.