Berne gauge
Encyclopedia
The Berne Gauge or Berne Convention Gauge is an informal but widely-used term for the railway loading gauge
considered the standard gauge in continental Europe
. The term arises from the international railway conference held and consequent convention signed in Berne
, Switzerland
in 1912. The official name of this gauge is the , and it came into force in 1914.
The European (Berne) loading gauge is usually 10 ft 2 in (3,150 mm) wide by 10 ft 5 in (3,175 mm) rising to 14 ft 0½ in (4,280 mm) in the centre. This is a clearance envelope (see Loading gauge
) on a curve of 250 m (820 ft 2.5 in) radius.
Previously, international through traffic, particularly freight, had been effectively constrained to vehicles and loads consistent with the standard French (with 1,500 V DC) loading gauge, the narrowest and lowest in Mainland Europe. As a result of accepting the convention, the French embarked on a period of progressive upgrade to make their network compliant.
Even after adopting the convention, significant parts of the European network operated to larger gauges, thus limiting the passing of traffic out of such areas.
Loading gauge
A loading gauge defines the maximum height and width for railway vehicles and their loads to ensure safe passage through bridges, tunnels and other structures...
considered the standard gauge in continental Europe
Continental Europe
Continental Europe, also referred to as mainland Europe or simply the Continent, is the continent of Europe, explicitly excluding European islands....
. The term arises from the international railway conference held and consequent convention signed in Berne
Berne
The city of Bern or Berne is the Bundesstadt of Switzerland, and, with a population of , the fourth most populous city in Switzerland. The Bern agglomeration, which includes 43 municipalities, has a population of 349,000. The metropolitan area had a population of 660,000 in 2000...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
in 1912. The official name of this gauge is the , and it came into force in 1914.
The European (Berne) loading gauge is usually 10 ft 2 in (3,150 mm) wide by 10 ft 5 in (3,175 mm) rising to 14 ft 0½ in (4,280 mm) in the centre. This is a clearance envelope (see Loading gauge
Loading gauge
A loading gauge defines the maximum height and width for railway vehicles and their loads to ensure safe passage through bridges, tunnels and other structures...
) on a curve of 250 m (820 ft 2.5 in) radius.
Previously, international through traffic, particularly freight, had been effectively constrained to vehicles and loads consistent with the standard French (with 1,500 V DC) loading gauge, the narrowest and lowest in Mainland Europe. As a result of accepting the convention, the French embarked on a period of progressive upgrade to make their network compliant.
Even after adopting the convention, significant parts of the European network operated to larger gauges, thus limiting the passing of traffic out of such areas.