List of gauge conversions
Encyclopedia
Railway gauge conversion
s include:
During World War I and World War II, gauge conversion occurred backwards and forwards between Germany and Russia as the fronts and national borders chopped and changed.
.
which would be required if the gauge changed at the border. In 2008, it is proposed to extend this line to Vienna. On 9 April 2010, a four way deal was signed. As a general rule, transshipment is minimised if breaks-of-gauge
occur at or near major hubs or major origins and destinations of traffic.
- Zhob
to . Report suggests conversion to in before. Conversion completed in 2006.
conversion of 17,000 km of 1000 mm gauge to 1676 mm broad gauge under project Unigauge Melbourne
to Adelaide
- 600 km of convertible sleepers installed in 1990 to facilitate quick conversion in 1995. Adelaide
- convertible sleepers installed should gauge conversion be needed in future. Port Harcourt - Onne
, Nigeria
- convertible sleepers installed since gauge conversion not imminent. The Mount Gambier, South Australia
line was fitted with some 3-gauge steel sleepers when it was "temporarily" converted from 1067 mm to 1600 mm in the 1950s, pending later conversion to 1435 mm from 2008.
conversion of 17,000 km of meter gauge to broad gauge under project Unigauge
to Adelaide
- 600 km of convertible sleepers installed in 1990 to facilitate quick conversion in 1995. Adelaide
- convertible sleepers installed should gauge conversion be needed in future. Port Harcourt - Onne
, Nigeria
- convertible sleepers installed since gauge conversion not imminent. The Mount Gambier line in South Australia
was fitted with some 3-gauge steel sleepers when it was "temporarily" converted from to in the 1950s, pending later conversion to from 2008.
1881 Denver to Pueblo from 3 ft to dual gauge on Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. This began a progressive and gradual conversion to standard gauge across Colorado, wherever the traffic justified the conversion
1881 Toronto, Grey and Bruce Railway, Canada
from to
1883 Toronto and Nipissing Railway
, Canada
from to with third rail stage.
1880's Numerous Provincial Gauge railways in Canada from to .
1886 many Southern states, from 5 ft (1524 mm), see Broad gauge#United States
1915 Sulitjelma Line in Norway converted from to dual gauge with
1922 Skøyen–Filipstad Line in Norway (was ) 1922 Trondhjem–Støren Line in Norway (was ) 1935 Arendal Line
in Norway (was 1941 Brest-Minsk 1944 Ålgård Line in Norway (was )
1949 Grevskap Line in Norway was 1960s Zabergäu Railway
to
1970 Indian Pacific; Sydney
to Perth
1980 Adelaide-Darwin Railway
; the first stage to Alice Springs. Replace a narrow gauge line on a different floodprone alignment. 2000s Spain
is building its High Speed lines to gauge, even though the existing system is ; new cutoff lines are being built with gauge convertible sleepers for easy conversion to standard gauge
when required. May 2008 - agreement reached to standardise 200 km of 1600mm track carrying declining traffic from Seymour
to Albury
, making double track
1435mm route for increasing interstate traffic. The drought affected wheat-only 1600mm Oaklands
branchline will be left as an orphan for time being. The cost of converting this 126 km line has been estimated as just over $AU13m, then $AU17m. 2009 Peru from Huancayo
to Huancavelica
from to ; 147 km.
iron ore line, from derelict to
amounting to 1,000 km was converted first to third rail
, and then to (metre gauge
) making the whole system metre gauge.
.
Gauge conversion
In rail transport, gauge conversion is the process of converting a railway from one rail gauge to another, through the alteration of the railway tracks...
s include:
During World War I and World War II, gauge conversion occurred backwards and forwards between Germany and Russia as the fronts and national borders chopped and changed.
2010
The iron ore railways serving or to serve Geraldton port, and the new port at Oakajee are narrow gauge, but will be designed for ease of conversion to standard gaugeStandard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
.
2008
A Russian broad gauge line reaches out into Slovakia to carry minerals without the need for transshipmentTransshipment
Transshipment or Transhipment is the shipment of goods or containers to an intermediate destination, and then from there to yet another destination....
which would be required if the gauge changed at the border. In 2008, it is proposed to extend this line to Vienna. On 9 April 2010, a four way deal was signed. As a general rule, transshipment is minimised if breaks-of-gauge
Break-of-gauge
With railways, a break-of-gauge occurs where a line of one gauge meets a line of a different gauge. Trains and rolling stock cannot run through without some form of conversion between gauges, and freight and passengers must otherwise be transloaded...
occur at or near major hubs or major origins and destinations of traffic.
2007
- 4-6-44-6-4Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-6-4 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and four trailing wheels on two axles .Other equivalent classifications are:UIC classification:...
R766 of the Victorian RailwaysVictorian RailwaysThe Victorian Railways operated railways in the Australian state of Victoria from 1859 to 1983. The first railways in Victoria were private companies, but when these companies failed or defaulted, the Victorian Railways was established to take over their operations...
, being designed for ease of conversion from to , was so converted in 2008.
2006
BostanBostan
Bostan is a book of poetry by the Persian poet Saadi, completed in 1257.It was Saadi's first work, and its title means "the fruit orchard". The book contains the fruits of Saadi's long experience and his judgements upon life, and is illustrated by a vast collection of anecdotes. It includes...
- Zhob
Zhob
-Roads:Zhob is 333 kilometers from Quetta, 225 kilometers from Dera Ismail Khan. However, the road linking with Dera Ismail Khan is for most part fair nowadays track passing through water streams and almost complete road is metalloid....
to . Report suggests conversion to in before. Conversion completed in 2006.
2000
IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
conversion of 17,000 km of 1000 mm gauge to 1676 mm broad gauge under project Unigauge Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
to Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
- 600 km of convertible sleepers installed in 1990 to facilitate quick conversion in 1995. Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
- convertible sleepers installed should gauge conversion be needed in future. Port Harcourt - Onne
Onne
Onne is a port of Nigeria.Onne is situated at Ogu Creek, a side-arm to Bonny River. It is part of the Odido Clan in the Eleme Local Government Area of Nigeria. It is a major port in the region and has several quays with facilities for cargoships up to 60,000 grt...
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
- convertible sleepers installed since gauge conversion not imminent. The Mount Gambier, South Australia
Mount Gambier, South Australia
Mount Gambier is the largest regional city in South Australia located approximately 450 kilometres south of the capital Adelaide and just 17 kilometres from the Victorian border....
line was fitted with some 3-gauge steel sleepers when it was "temporarily" converted from 1067 mm to 1600 mm in the 1950s, pending later conversion to 1435 mm from 2008.
- Central AsiaCentral AsiaCentral Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
- while
ChinaChinaChinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and
EuropeEuropeEurope is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
are connected by rail, and while both are mainly 1435 mm, the intervening Central Asia Railways are 1520 mm gauge. Intervening lines are gradually been made gauge convertible to facilitate and eventual linkage of the Chinese and European standard gaugeStandard gaugeThe standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
system. TanzaniaTanzaniaThe United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
in 2008 is proposing 1000 mm/1067 mm steel sleepers and 1000 mm/1435 mm concrete sleepers to suit gauge conversion.
By target gauge
During WWI and WWII, gauge conversion occurred backwards and forwards between Germany and Russia as the fronts and national borders changed.To broad gauge
IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
conversion of 17,000 km of meter gauge to broad gauge under project Unigauge
Project Unigauge
Project Unigauge is an ongoing exercise by Indian Railways to standardise most of the rail gauges in India at 1676 mm broad gauge....
Other
MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
to Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
- 600 km of convertible sleepers installed in 1990 to facilitate quick conversion in 1995. Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
- convertible sleepers installed should gauge conversion be needed in future. Port Harcourt - Onne
Onne
Onne is a port of Nigeria.Onne is situated at Ogu Creek, a side-arm to Bonny River. It is part of the Odido Clan in the Eleme Local Government Area of Nigeria. It is a major port in the region and has several quays with facilities for cargoships up to 60,000 grt...
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
- convertible sleepers installed since gauge conversion not imminent. The Mount Gambier line in South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
was fitted with some 3-gauge steel sleepers when it was "temporarily" converted from to in the 1950s, pending later conversion to from 2008.
- Central AsiaCentral AsiaCentral Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
- while ChinaChinaChinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and EuropeEuropeEurope is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
are connected by rail, and while both are mainly , the intervening Central Asia Railways are gauge. Intervening lines are gradually being made gauge convertible to facilitate an eventual linkage of the Chinese and European standard gaugeStandard gaugeThe standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
system. (variable gauge trains) TanzaniaTanzaniaThe United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
in 2008 is proposing / steel sleepers and / concrete sleepers to suit gauge conversion.
Conversions to standard gauge
- (in date order)
1881 Denver to Pueblo from 3 ft to dual gauge on Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. This began a progressive and gradual conversion to standard gauge across Colorado, wherever the traffic justified the conversion1881 Toronto, Grey and Bruce Railway, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
from to
1883 Toronto and Nipissing Railway
Toronto and Nipissing Railway
The Toronto and Nipissing Railway was chartered in 1868 to build a narrow gauge railway in Ontario, Canada from Toronto to Lake Nipissing, via York, Ontario, and Victoria Counties. It opened in 1871, with service between Scarborough and Uxbridge. By December 1872 it was extended to Coboconk...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
from to with third rail stage.
1880's Numerous Provincial Gauge railways in Canada from to .
1886 many Southern states, from 5 ft (1524 mm), see Broad gauge#United States
1915 Sulitjelma Line in Norway converted from to dual gauge with
1922 Skøyen–Filipstad Line in Norway (was ) 1922 Trondhjem–Støren Line in Norway (was ) 1935 Arendal Line
Arendal Line
The Arendal Line is a long railway line between Arendal and Simonstad in Norway. At Nelaug, north of Arendal, the line intersects with the Sørland Line. The southern section is electrified and provides a feeder passenger service. The line originally ran north from Arendal to Treungen and the...
in Norway (was 1941 Brest-Minsk 1944 Ålgård Line in Norway (was )
1949 Grevskap Line in Norway was 1960s Zabergäu Railway
Zabergäu Railway
The Zabergäu Railway was a spur line from the Franconia Railway. It ran for 20.3 km from Lauffen am Neckar to Leonbronn through an area known as the Zabergäu...
to
1970 Indian Pacific; Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
to Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
1980 Adelaide-Darwin Railway
Adelaide-Darwin railway
The Adelaide–Darwin railway is a north-south transcontinental railway in Australia, between the cities of Adelaide, South Australia and Darwin, Northern Territory...
; the first stage to Alice Springs. Replace a narrow gauge line on a different floodprone alignment. 2000s Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
is building its High Speed lines to gauge, even though the existing system is ; new cutoff lines are being built with gauge convertible sleepers for easy conversion to standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
when required. May 2008 - agreement reached to standardise 200 km of 1600mm track carrying declining traffic from Seymour
Seymour
- Places :Antarctica* Seymour Island, an island off the tip of Graham Land on the Antarctic PeninsulaAustralia*Seymour, Victoria*Electoral district of Seymour, an electoral district in VictoriaCanada...
to Albury
Albury, New South Wales
Albury is a major regional city in New South Wales, Australia, located on the Hume Highway on the northern side of the Murray River. It is located wholly within the boundaries of the City of Albury Local Government Area...
, making double track
Double track
A double track railway usually involves running one track in each direction, compared to a single track railway where trains in both directions share the same track.- Overview :...
1435mm route for increasing interstate traffic. The drought affected wheat-only 1600mm Oaklands
Oaklands railway line, Victoria
The Oaklands railway line is a freight only railway line in north eastern Victoria, Australia. The line branches from the main North East railway at Benalla station until it connects with the New South Wales railway network at Oaklands, New South Wales....
branchline will be left as an orphan for time being. The cost of converting this 126 km line has been estimated as just over $AU13m, then $AU17m. 2009 Peru from Huancayo
Huancayo
Huancayo with a rock') is the capital of the Junín Region, in the central highlands of Peru. It is located in Junín Province, of which it is also capital. Situated near the Mantaro Valley at an altitude of 3,271 meters, it has a population of 377,000 and is the fifth most populous city of the...
to Huancavelica
Huancavelica
Huancavelica is a city in Peru. It is the capital of the Huancavelica region and has a population of approximately 40,000. Indigenous peoples represent a major percentage of the population. It has an approximate altitude of 3,600 meters; the climate is cold and dry between the months of February...
from to ; 147 km.
Proposed
Port PepelPort Pepel
- Railway :The port is connected to the mine at Marampa by an 84km long 1067mm gauge railway.It will be replaced by a higher capacity port at Tagrin Point....
iron ore line, from derelict to
Integrated with Southern African railways
- Beira - SalisburyBeira Railroad CorporationThe Beira Railroad Corporation is a railway company formed by a lease from the Mozambique Ports and Railways to the Indian Rites and Ircon International consortium to operate a railroad that originates from the port of Beira, Mozambique as terminal...
- 1910 - was - Namibian RailwaysMoçâmedes RailwayThe Moçâmedes Railway is a 907 km railway line in Angola, between Namibe and Menongue in Cuando Cubango province....
, 1930s, much of which was
Isolated
- Matadi–Kinshasa Railway - 1932 - was
- Luanda Railway, AngolaAngolaAngola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
, was - Angola Namibe Railway, 1950s, was
- KinduKinduKindu is a town in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the capital of Maniema province. It has a population of about 200,000 and is situated on the Congo River at an altitude of about 500 metres, and is about 400 km west of Bukavu....
(Lualaba River port) - Kibombo – Kongolo – KabaloKabaloKabalo is one of a number of towns in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with this name. This one is in the east, in Tanganyika District.- Transport :Kabalo is the junction of railway lines to the north and to Lake Tanganyika in the east....
(Lualaba River port and junction with Katanga line) - Nyunzu – Niemba – KalemieKalemieKalemie, formerly Albertville/Albertstad, is a town on the western shore of Lake Tanganyika in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The town is next to the exit of the Lukuga River flowing out from Lake Tanganyika to the Lualaba River....
(the port on Lake Tanganika), 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in). This line was isolated until 1955, when the gauge was changed for the connection with the Katanga line in 1956.
Norway
- the Sulitjelma Line was converted from to and when closed was converted to a road.
Conversion to metre gauge
From 1920, the standard gauge part of the Siam railwayRail transport in Thailand
The railway network of Thailand is currently managed and operated by the State Railway of Thailand .-History:Interest in rail transport in Thailand can be traced to when King Rama IV was given a gift of a model railway from Queen Victoria...
amounting to 1,000 km was converted first to third rail
Dual gauge
A dual-gauge or mixed-gauge railway has railway track that allows trains of different gauges to use the same track. Generally, a dual-gauge railway consists of three rails, rather than the standard two rails. The two outer rails give the wider gauge, while one of the outer rails and the inner rail...
, and then to (metre gauge
Metre gauge
Metre gauge refers to narrow gauge railways and tramways with a track gauge of . In some African, American and Asian countries it is the main gauge. In Europe it has been used for local railways in France, Germany, and Belgium, most of which were closed down in mid 20th century. Only in Switzerland...
) making the whole system metre gauge.
Variable gauge axles
Gauge conversion will no doubt be less important with the development of a number of different variable gauge axle systems, also called Automatic Track Gauge Changeover Systems, such as the SUW 2000SUW 2000
SUW 2000 is a type of variable gauge system that allows a train to travel across a railway break-of-gauge.The SUW 2000 design is manufactured by Polish company ZNTK Poznań for Polish State Railways...
.