Jump to content

Metre-gauge railway: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Dab link
 
(18 intermediate revisions by 11 users not shown)
Line 4: Line 4:
'''Metre-gauge railways''' ([[American English|US]]: '''meter-gauge railways''') are [[narrow-gauge railway]]s with [[track gauge]] of {{Track gauge|1000mm}} or 1 [[metre]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Raja|first1=K|title=Complete information on Railway Gauges|url=http://www.preservearticles.com/2012020422668/complete-information-on-railway-gauges.html|access-date=April 30, 2017}}</ref>
'''Metre-gauge railways''' ([[American English|US]]: '''meter-gauge railways''') are [[narrow-gauge railway]]s with [[track gauge]] of {{Track gauge|1000mm}} or 1 [[metre]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Raja|first1=K|title=Complete information on Railway Gauges|url=http://www.preservearticles.com/2012020422668/complete-information-on-railway-gauges.html|access-date=April 30, 2017}}</ref>


The metre gauge is used in around {{convert|95000|km|mi}} of tracks around the world. It was used by European colonial powers, such as the French, British and German Empires in their colonies. In Europe, large metre-gauge networks remain in use in [[Switzerland]], [[Spain]] and many [[List of town tramway systems in Europe|European towns with urban trams]], but most metre-gauge [[voie ferrée d'intérêt local|local railways in France]], Germany and [[Vicinal tramway|Belgium]] closed down in the mid-20th century, although many still remain. With the revival of urban rail transport, metre-gauge [[Medium-capacity rail transport system|light metros]] were established in some cities, and in other cities, metre gauge was replaced by [[standard gauge]]. The slightly-wider {{Track gauge|1009mm}} gauge is used [[trams in Sofia|in Sofia]].
Metre gauge is used in around {{convert|95000|km|mi}} of tracks around the world.{{cn|date=March 2024}} It was used by several European colonial powers including France, Britain and Germany in their colonies. In Europe, large metre-gauge networks remain in use in Switzerland, Spain and many [[List of town tramway systems in Europe|European towns with urban trams]], but most metre-gauge [[voie ferrée d'intérêt local|local railways in France]], Germany and [[Vicinal tramway|Belgium]] closed down in the mid-20th century, although some still remain. With the revival of urban rail transport, metre-gauge [[Medium-capacity rail transport system|light metros]] were built in some cities. The slightly-wider {{Track gauge|1009mm}} gauge is used in [[trams in Sofia|Sofia, Bulgaria]]. Another similar gauge is {{TrackGauge|lk=on|3ft 6in}}.
__TOC__
{{clr}}


==Examples of metre-gauge==
==Examples of metre-gauge==
Line 30: Line 32:
** [[Coast Tram (Belgium)|Belgian Coast Tram]] (operating)
** [[Coast Tram (Belgium)|Belgian Coast Tram]] (operating)
** [[Charleroi Metro|Charleroi Light Metro]] (operating)
** [[Charleroi Metro|Charleroi Light Metro]] (operating)
** Several "museum lines" kept in operation for tourists by volunteers: tramway to the [[Caves of Han-sur-Lesse]], [[Tramway touristique de l'Aisne]], etc.
* [[Antwerp Tram]] (operating)
* [[Antwerp Tram]] (operating)
* [[Ghent Tram]] (operating)
* [[Ghent Tram]] (operating)
Line 72: Line 75:
|[[Narrow-gauge railways in China|China]]
|[[Narrow-gauge railways in China|China]]
|
|
*[[Kunming–Hai Phong Railway|Kunhe Railway]] (formerly the Yunnan–Vietnam Railway) (operating).
*[[Kunming–Haiphong railway|Kunhe Railway]] (formerly the Yunnan–Vietnam Railway) (operating).
*[[Dujiangyan–Siguniangshan mountain railway]] <small>[</small><small>[[:zh:都江堰至四姑娘山山地铁路|zh]]</small><small>]</small> (in construction).
*Former [[Datong–Puzhou railway]] and [[Shijiazhuang-Taiyuan Railway|Zhengding-Taiyuan Railway]]. All regauged to [[standard gauge]].
|-
|-
|[[Rail transport in Croatia|Croatia]]
|[[Rail transport in Croatia|Croatia]]
Line 85: Line 90:
|Several metre gauge railways
|Several metre gauge railways
|-
|-
|[[Narrow gauge railways in Denmark#Metre gauge railways|Denmark]]
|[[Rail transport in Denmark|Denmark]]
⚫
| See [[Narrow gauge railways in Denmark#Metre gauge railways|Metre gauge railways in Denmark]] and [[Narrow-gauge railways in Denmark]]. A few [[List of town tramway systems in Denmark|local railways]]. Only one remains, but [[Track gauge conversion|regauged]] to standard gauge.
⚫
|
⚫
A few [[List of town tramway systems in Denmark|local railways]]. Only one remains, but [[Track gauge conversion|regauged]] to standard gauge.
*[[Århus tramway]] (closed), [[Danish Tramway Museum]].
*[[Århus tramway]] (closed), [[Danish Tramway Museum]].
|-
|-
Line 110: Line 114:
* [[Chemin de fer de la Baie de Somme]] (operating)
* [[Chemin de fer de la Baie de Somme]] (operating)
* [[Ligne de Cerdagne]], ''Le Petit Train Jaune'' (Little Yellow Train), operating in the French Pyrenees.
* [[Ligne de Cerdagne]], ''Le Petit Train Jaune'' (Little Yellow Train), operating in the French Pyrenees.
* [[Saint-Gervais–Vallorcine railway]] throught [[Chamonix]] (operating)
* [[Saint-Gervais–Vallorcine railway]] through [[Chamonix]] (operating)
* [[Mont Blanc tramway]] (operating)
* [[Mont Blanc tramway]] (operating)
* [[Chemin de fer du Montenvers]] (operating)
* [[Chemin de fer du Montenvers]] (operating)
* [[Guignicourt–Rethel railway]]
|-
|-
|[[Narrow-gauge railways in Germany|Germany]]
|[[Narrow-gauge railways in Germany|Germany]]
Line 183: Line 188:
|
|
*[[Kenya Railway]] run by [[Kenya Railways Corporation]]. Metre gauge link from [[Nairobi Terminus|Nairobi Standard Gauge station]] to city centre (operating)
*[[Kenya Railway]] run by [[Kenya Railways Corporation]]. Metre gauge link from [[Nairobi Terminus|Nairobi Standard Gauge station]] to city centre (operating)
⚫
|-
|[[Rail transport in Uganda|Uganda]]
|
⚫
* [[Uganda Railway]] run by [[Uganda Railways Corporation]]. Metre gauge link from [[Malaba, Uganda|Malaba]] to Kampala city centre (operating, under rehabilitation)

⚫
* Metre gauge link from [[Malaba, Uganda|Malaba]] to Tororo (operating)
⚫
* Metre gauge link from Tororo - Gulu - Pakwach to Tororo (under rehabilitation)
|-
|-
|[[Rail transport in Laos|Laos]]
|[[Rail transport in Laos|Laos]]
Line 290: Line 288:
|
|
*[[Euskotren Trena]] inter-city, commuter & metro lines and [[Euskotren Tranbia]] ([[Bilbao tram|Bilbao]] and [[Vitoria-Gasteiz tram|Vitoria-Gasteiz]]) tram lines
*[[Euskotren Trena]] inter-city, commuter & metro lines and [[Euskotren Tranbia]] ([[Bilbao tram|Bilbao]] and [[Vitoria-Gasteiz tram|Vitoria-Gasteiz]]) tram lines
*[[Cercanías Bilbao|C-4 (Cercanías Bilbao)]] (Bilbao La Concordia-La Calzada)
*[[Renfe Feve]] lines in north-west Spain, including the ''[[Transcantábrico]]'' (operating)
*[[Renfe Feve]] lines in north-west Spain, including the ''[[Transcantábrico]]'' (operating)
*[[Cercanías Asturias|C-4, C-5, C-6, C-7, C-8, C-9 (Cercanías Asturias)]] (operating)
*[[Barcelona Metro line 8]]; [[Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya]] suburban lines S4, S8, R5 and R6 (operating)
*[[Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya|FGC]] [[Llobregat–Anoia Line]] and [[Barcelona Metro line 8]]
*[[Metro Bilbao]] (operating)
*[[Metro Bilbao]] (operating)
*[[C-9 (Cercanías Madrid)|Cercanías Madrid C-9]] (Cercedilla–Cotos) (operating)
*[[C-9 (Cercanías Madrid)|Cercanías Madrid C-9]] (Cercedilla–Cotos) (operating)
Line 302: Line 302:
|-
|-
|[[Rail transport in Switzerland|Switzerland]]
|[[Rail transport in Switzerland|Switzerland]]
⚫
|
|Many [[List of railway companies in Switzerland#Narrow gauge|narrow-gauge railways]]: [[suburban rail]]ways, [[Mountain railway#Switzerland|mountain railway]]s, [[Rack railways#Switzerland|rack railway]]s, some long-distance railways and [[List of town tramway systems in Switzerland|trams]].
*[[Albula Railway]] and [[Bernina railway|Bernina railway (crosses into)]] [[Italy]]). These railways share [[World Heritage Site|UNESCO World Heritage Site]] status as part of the [[Rhaetian Railway]] (operating)
*[[Albula Railway]] and [[Bernina railway]] (crosses into [[Italy]]). These railways share [[World Heritage Site|UNESCO World Heritage Site]] status as part of the [[Rhaetian Railway]] (operating)
*[[Appenzell–St. Gallen–Trogen railway]], [[Altstätten–Gais railway line]], [[Gossau–Wasserauen railway line]], runs in the cantons of St. Gallen, Appenzell Innerrhoden and Appenzell Ausserrhoden (operating)
*[[Appenzell–St. Gallen–Trogen railway]], [[Altstätten–Gais railway line]], [[Gossau–Wasserauen railway line]], runs in the cantons of St. Gallen, Appenzell Innerrhoden and Appenzell Ausserrhoden (operating)
*[[Dolderbahn]], Funicular railway in Zurich converted into a rack railway and extended in the early 1970s. (operating)
*[[Dolderbahn]], Funicular railway in Zurich converted into a rack railway and extended in the early 1970s. (operating)
Line 332: Line 332:
*[[Trams in Geneva]], (operating)
*[[Trams in Geneva]], (operating)
*[[Berner Oberlandbahn]], (operating)
*[[Berner Oberlandbahn]], (operating)
*[[Montreux–Glion–Rochers-de-Naye railway line]], (operating)
*[[Montreux–Lenk im Simmental line]], (operating)
*[[Montreux–Lenk im Simmental line]], (operating)
*[[Gornergratbahn]], (operating)
*[[Gornergratbahn]], (operating)
*[[Trams in Zürich]], trams in Zürich city and Glattal (operating)
*[[Trams in Zürich]], trams in Zürich city and Glattal (operating)
*[[List of narrow-gauge railways in Switzerland]]
|-
|-
|[[Rail transport in Tanzania|Tanzania]]
|[[Rail transport in Tanzania|Tanzania]]
Line 357: Line 355:
|-
|-
|[[Rail transport in Uganda|Uganda]]
|[[Rail transport in Uganda|Uganda]]
⚫
|
|[[Uganda Railway]] run by [[Uganda Railways Corporation]]
⚫
* [[Uganda Railway]] run by [[Uganda Railways Corporation]]. Metre gauge link from [[Malaba, Uganda|Malaba]] to Kampala city centre (operating, under rehabilitation)
⚫
* Metre gauge link from [[Malaba, Uganda|Malaba]] to Tororo (operating)
⚫
* Metre gauge link from Tororo - Gulu - Pakwach to Tororo (under rehabilitation)
|-
|-
|[[Rail transport in Ukraine|Ukraine]]
|[[Rail transport in Ukraine|Ukraine]]
Line 375: Line 376:
|[[Rail transportation in the United States|United States]]
|[[Rail transportation in the United States|United States]]
|
|
*Sierra Lumber Company Railroad. A metre-gauge railway built in 1881 from [[Lyonsville, California]] into the [[Sequoioideae|redwood]] forests. It used three steam locomotives and worked until 1907.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Sierra Lumber Company |first=Andrew |last=Brandon |url=http://www.pacificng.com/template.php?page=roads/ca/slco/index.htm |publisher=Pacific Narrow Gauge}}</ref>
*Sierra Lumber Company Railroad. A meter-gauge railway built in 1881 from [[Lyonsville, California]] into the [[Sequoioideae|redwood]] forests. It used three steam locomotives and worked until 1907.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Sierra Lumber Company |first=Andrew |last=Brandon |url=http://www.pacificng.com/template.php?page=roads/ca/slco/index.htm |publisher=Pacific Narrow Gauge}}</ref>
*Honda Express at [[Six Flags Magic Mountain]]
*Honda Express at [[Six Flags Magic Mountain]]
* The [[Red Car Trolley]] at the [[Disney California Adventure]] theme park in California
|-
|-
|[[Rail transport in Vietnam|Vietnam]]
|[[Rail transport in Vietnam|Vietnam]]
Line 391: Line 393:


==External links==
==External links==
*[https://archive.today/20120713100348/http://parovoz.com/spravka/gauges-en.php Railroad Gauge Width]
* [https://archive.today/20120713100348/http://parovoz.com/spravka/gauges-en.php Railroad Gauge Width]


{{Navbox track gauge}}
{{Navbox track gauge}}

Latest revision as of 10:59, 29 December 2024

Track gauge
By transport mode
By size (list)
Graphic list of track gauges
  Minimum
  Fifteen inch 381 mm (15 in)
  Narrow
  600 mm 600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in)
Two foot 610 mm (2 ft)
Two foot three inch 686 mm (2 ft 3 in)
  750 mm 750 mm (2 ft 5+1⁄2 in)
Bosnian gauge 760 mm (2 ft 5+15⁄16 in)
Two foot six inch 762 mm (2 ft 6 in)
  Swedish three foot 891 mm (2 ft 11+3⁄32 in)
900 mm 900 mm (2 ft 11+7⁄16 in)
Three foot 914 mm (3 ft)
Italian metre 950 mm (3 ft1+13⁄32 in)
  Metre 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in)
  Three foot six inch 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
  Four foot 1,219 mm (4 ft)
  Four foot six inch 1,372 mm (4 ft 6 in)
  1432 mm 1,432 mm (4 ft 8+3⁄8 in)
  Standard 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
  Broad
  Italian broad gauge 1,445 mm (4 ft 8+7⁄8 in)
Dresden gauge 1,450 mm (4 ft 9+3⁄32 in)
  Leipzig gauge 1,458 mm (4 ft 9+13⁄32 in)
  Toronto gauge 1,495 mm (4 ft 10+7⁄8 in)
  1520 mm 1,520 mm (4 ft 11+27⁄32 in)
Five foot 1,524 mm (5 ft)
  Pennsylvania gauge 1,581 mm (5 ft 2+1⁄4 in)
Pennsylvania gauge 1,588 mm (5 ft 2+1⁄2 in)
Five foot three inch 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in)
  Baltimore gauge 1,638 mm (5 ft 4+1⁄2 in)
  Iberian gauge 1,668 mm (5 ft 5+21⁄32 in)
Five foot six inch 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
  Six foot 1,829 mm (6 ft)
  Brunel 2,140 mm (7 ft 1⁄4 in)
  Breitspurbahn 3,000 mm (9 ft 101⁄8 in)
Change of gauge
By location
World map, rail gauge by region

Metre-gauge railways (US: meter-gauge railways) are narrow-gauge railways with track gauge of 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) or 1 metre.[1]

Metre gauge is used in around 95,000 kilometres (59,000 mi) of tracks around the world.[citation needed] It was used by several European colonial powers including France, Britain and Germany in their colonies. In Europe, large metre-gauge networks remain in use in Switzerland, Spain and many European towns with urban trams, but most metre-gauge local railways in France, Germany and Belgium closed down in the mid-20th century, although some still remain. With the revival of urban rail transport, metre-gauge light metros were built in some cities. The slightly-wider 1,009 mm (3 ft 3+23⁄32 in) gauge is used in Sofia, Bulgaria. Another similar gauge is 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm).

Examples of metre-gauge

[edit]
Country/territory Railway
Argentina 11,080 km (6,880 mi)

Ferrocarril General Manuel Belgrano

Austria
Bangladesh 1,830 km (1,140 mi), out of which 365 km (227 mi) are dual gauge with 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) gauge
Belgium
Benin 578 km (359 mi)
Bolivia 3,600 km (2,200 mi)
Brazil

23,489 km (14,595 mi)

  • Mostly in cargo railways, including E.F Vitoria-Minas Passenger/Cargo Line and R.R. (operating)
  • Fortaleza Metro (operating)
  • Teresina Metro (operating)
Bulgaria 154 km (96 mi) of 1,009 mm (3 ft 3+23⁄32 in) gauge
Burkina Faso
Burma 3,200 kilometres (2,000 mi) 160 kilometres (99 mi)
Cambodia 612 km (380 mi)
Cameroon 1,104 km (686 mi)
Chile 2,923 km (1,816 mi)
China
Croatia
Czech Republic Like other Sudeten cities, the trams of Liberec used metre gauge in the past. All lines however have been rebuilt to standard gauge.
Democratic Republic of the Congo Several metre gauge railways
Denmark See Metre gauge railways in Denmark and Narrow-gauge railways in Denmark. A few local railways. Only one remains, but regauged to standard gauge.
Egypt
Finland
France Historically used in many local and regional railways, only a few of which remain today.
Germany
Greece The Piraeus, Athens and Peloponnese Railways used to be the largest metre-gauge network in Europe but are now largely abandoned. Only the suburban rail service of Patras, and the Olympia–Katakolo tourist railway still use the network.
Hungary
India Nilgiri Mountain Railway (operating)

Mailani - Nanpara Railway (operating)

Iraq Mesopotamian Railways
Israel Sections of 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) railways, later converted to 1,050 mm (3 ft 5+11⁄32 in) or 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) gauge
Italy
Ivory Coast
Kenya
Laos A 3.5 km extension of the metre-gauge State Railway of Thailand network across the border into Laos
Latvia Liepāja tramway (operating)
Madagascar 875 km (544 mi). There are two unconnected systems operated by Madarail
Malaysia
Mali

641 km (398 mi) Dakar–Niger Railway

Malta Malta Railway
Morocco Several industrial railways in former Spanish Morocco
New Zealand Wellington Cable Car (operating)
Norway
Pakistan
Poland
Portugal Several mainly mountainous branch lines, mostly abandoned in the 1990s, never fully interconnected — connected to the REFER network by means of shared stations and some dual-gauge stretches. Metro de Mirandela and Vouga line remain in use. Other metric networks include Funchal rack railway (defunct in 1943), Coimbra trams (defunct in 1980), and Sintra trams.
Puerto Rico Full network of Puerto Rican 1000mm railways in 1920: 654 km (406 mi)[2]
Romania
Russia
Senegal Dakar–Niger Railway – 1,287 km (800 mi)
Serbia Belgrade Tram (operating)
Singapore Singapore span of the Keretapi Tanah Melayu (Malayan Railway) for shuttle service.
Slovakia
Spain
Sweden Skansens bergbana (operating)
Switzerland
Tanzania Tanzania Railways Corporation – about 2,600 km (1,600 mi) (break of gauge with 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) TAZARA Railway)
Thailand State Railway of Thailand, 4,346 km (2,700 mi).
Togo 568 km (353 mi).
Tunisia 1,674 km (1,040 mi) used along with standard gauge (471 km (293 mi))
Turkey
Uganda
  • Uganda Railway run by Uganda Railways Corporation. Metre gauge link from Malaba to Kampala city centre (operating, under rehabilitation)
  • Metre gauge link from Malaba to Tororo (operating)
  • Metre gauge link from Tororo - Gulu - Pakwach to Tororo (under rehabilitation)
Ukraine
United Kingdom
United States
Vietnam Vietnam Railways and KunHe Railway

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Raja, K. "Complete information on Railway Gauges". Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  2. ^ «Los ferrocarriles de uso público en Puerto Rico (1870-1990)», Antonio Santamaría García (1994). Revista Complutense de Historia de América XX: pp. 207-228
  3. ^ Contexto histórico e inventario del ferrocarril en Puerto Rico, 1850-1953 - Primera parte: Trasfondo histórico
  4. ^ «Conservando una Romántica Tradición», Dave Deyo, Railroading, Number 43, Second Quarter (1972): pp. 6-18]
  5. ^ Brandon, Andrew. "The Sierra Lumber Company". Pacific Narrow Gauge.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Metre-gauge_railway&oldid=1265949223"