Gauge Railway in Russia and other countries

Rail transport - one of the leading types of transportation of passengers and cargo.Few people think about the width of the track, sitting in the train.Even fewer people know what was dictated by these parameters.For various reasons, the railway track way in the various countries have significant differences.

little history

science-fiction writer from England, Herbert George Wells says that the size of the track were selected based on the distance between the wheels of an ordinary horse carts.This can be read in his essay "Foresight".

development of rail transport is in the middle of the 19th century.At the same time the company giants in the industry as much as possible increase its influence in the business circles.Of course, at the same time a significant increase in the industry is fixed.

first locomotives were perceived as an alternative to horsepower.Their parameters are fully consistent with the size of crews.That is what dictated the size of the first rail and track width (1,435 mm).

not all of the first path were laid on the basis of generally accepted norms.For example, the width of the railway track on the road from Dublin to Drogheda (Ireland) is 1600 mm.

Fight for the size of the track

Izambart engineer Brunel, who lived in the years 1806-1859, has always advocated the extension of the track.In 1835 it was completed the construction of the Great Western road.The distance between the rails was 2135 mm.

disagreement on as to what is the width of the railway track to be taken as a standard, continued until 1845.During the debate were carefully studied the performance of different types of roads.In order to make the only right decision in England created a special parliamentary commission, which was to establish uniform size railway track.Thus, in 1845 there was a law on the construction of railways in gauge of 1435 mm.But there are ways that are not consistent with this data, we had to be reconstructed.Violators face a fine of £ 10 for each mile per 1 day of the existence of illegal roads.

Special conditions for Ireland

Great West Road was forced to lay one more, a third rail.For Ireland, the British government made an exception (track width here and until now 1600 mm).In the country in the 40s of the 19th century successfully co-existed six standards track.To issue has been resolved fairly, the government has identified a single standard, to calculate the average.

Railroads US

In the United States before the Civil War, the states have sought to isolate themselves.Of course, this should be reflected in transport.The first road is very varied the distance between the rails.In New York, it was approved by a law which forbade the other branches connected with roads (track width at them was 1524 mm).

From 1865 to 1886 there is an association of American highways.States are beginning to find ways to work together, the English standard is becoming more and more supporters.

Only in February 1886 adopted the "Convention", which enshrined the introduction of a single track in the United States.Turnpike 21000 km length were pereshito in just two days.A training took 79 days.The width of the railway track in the United States was reduced to 1,435 mm.The same size in Canadian railroads.

European railways

English gauge (1,435 mm) has been extended to the European continent.The legislation was approved this size in different countries at different times: in Bavaria in 1836, Prussia in 1837, the entire German TC - 1850.

Since gauge railway in Europe, adopted in England, used as the basis and is the most common.

However, the origins of these parameters should be sought in ancient Rome.In those days, in order to prevent permanent damage chariots, it was decided to create a wagon with the same distance between the wheels (as it was equal to 1435 mm).

broad gauge

Besides Ireland, the wide track (1600 mm) is also used in countries such as Australia (partially since 1854) and Brazil.The wider (1676 mm) was introduced in Spain in 1848, in Portugal - in 1854, in Argentina - in 1857-m, and later - in India, Chile, Ceylon.

In all these countries adopted then gauge still remained dominant.

And in Russia

Gauge railway in Russia was more than the English.From the figures in 1829 mm to the Tsarskoye Selo entered the road, the country has moved to 1524 mm in size.It was characteristic of the highway Moscow - St. Petersburg.In the future, this option and become the norm.Apparently, Russian engineers have borrowed from the US figure.While consultants from America took an active part in charting new paths.

Width 1524 mm was justified by economic calculations.When you create a track government bore the cost is less than useless.Perhaps it was also a strategic decision.As the neighboring countries would be unable to invade the country through rail transport routes.

At the end of the 60s of the last century was reduced to a track of 1520 mm.This was done for the convenience of calculation.Today the transport routes with the tracks 1520 and 1524 mm are second in the world in terms of length of roads (total duration).

width of railway gauge in Russia and Europe taken as standard at different times.For what reasons the regions have not come to a common indicator, is not known for certain.

Russian subways

Gauge railway in Russia in all metros is the same as in most of the country's railways.This also applies to all CIS countries.Tram line Russia have a similar distance between the rails - 1520 mm.There are some cities that are different in this regard.In Rostov-on-Don, for example, laid a European track.Its width is 1,435 mm.In some regions of the Russian and CIS settlements for trams used a narrow track width of 1000 mm.It is cities such as Kaliningrad (Russia), Pyatigorsk (Russia), Lviv (Ukraine), Zhytomyr (Ukraine), Vinnitsa (Ukraine) and others.

Countries with Russian gauge

Gauge with indicators of 1520 and 1524 mm occurs more in some states.This is mainly the former Soviet Union and neighboring Finland, Mongolia, Afghanistan.Of course, this does not mean that there is no use other track.

There are options when using multiple railway beds, the width of which is different from the accepted standard.For example, in Bulgaria there is a small section of road in Varna on the ferry.In Germany - in the port of Sassnitz.Track gauge railway in China at border crossings with Russia also has the appropriate size.North Korea in 2011, restored the land at the border crossing Hassan - Tumen.Romania has a line that connects the Metallurgical Plant and Moldova.Also, these shortcuts are available in Slovakia, Sweden, Iran.

Although gauge railway in Europe is different from our parameters areas with the Russian gauge saves money for frequent transport of goods from the factories, mills and large stable passenger traffic.

Application narrow gauge

When just beginning to lay the rails, in England there was a way to track 590 mm.Then a railway track stele in France, Belgium and Scandinavia.In Russia, the narrow-gauge railway was also introduced (in 1871).

In some countries, such roads are still used.For example, in Cape their length is so great (112 thousand kilometers) that they were stable.The road is called - "Cape gauge", its width - 1,067 mm.

in South Africa and the countries of Central Africa, the Philippines, New Zealand, parts of Japan and Australia also have such narrow w / d road.The width of the railway track on Sakhalin Island also had a size of 1,067 mm.Since 2004 JSC "Russian Railways" reconstructs to increase the volume of traffic.

Japan to build a high-speed train line to the distance between the rails in 1435 mm.

Gauge Railway in Russia on the border with Poland and Kaliningrad to the same.Now the South Station of the city to settle a few such ways.

In the Soviet Union also used the track width of 750 mm.These paths were the second most popular and used until 1980.Currently, they have moved under a common standard, or simply shut down.

In some European countries used the 1000 mm track.

Disadvantages

narrow-gauge railway Narrow gauge always chosen for reasons of economy.For him to move freely only light compositions.It helped reduce the cost of construction w / d-webs.Calculations showed that the road to Festinoge would cost three times as much if it had normal.

Unfortunately, this width is not sufficient to satisfy all needs.In the late 19th century, the country began to actively move to larger sizes.

Despite the confidence of supporters of the narrow gauge railway and the desire to prove the feasibility and practicality of these paintings, these views were not accepted by the majority.And 1435 mm-way spread with great speed on the roads of different values.

now narrow gauge used for industrial transportation in large factories and mills for tourist routes, in mines, on some lines in the country to carry passengers.

Some statistics and curiosities

roads with track in 1435 mm are the most common.Their share is 75% of the w / e ways.Wider range within 11%, and the narrow-gauge railway - 14%.

length w / e ways around the world - 1.2 million km.Most roads were laid in the US (almost 240 thousand kilometers).Second place Canada (90,000 km).Third place belongs to Russia (86,000 km).

the narrowest track width (0 mm) can boast of the w / e the road in Germany, where one used rail.This way wore experimental.

most broad gauge railway tracks (3,000 mm) Invites the General Staff of Hitler to export from the occupied Ukraine and other European countries raw materials.Victory over the Nazis made this plan impossible.The three-meter width of railway gauge in Ukraine remained only on paper.

most common gauge

difficulties of using track with different widths

use cloths with different gauges around the world creates a number of inconveniences for transportation of cargo and passengers.In place of "meeting" these ways have to replant people (moving goods).Also used the technology to other permutations cars carts.

width of railway gauge in Russia and Europe is characterized by 85 mm.Therefore, all border crossings associated with additional difficulties.Most used standards - is the European and Russian gauge.

largest number of connecting points (15 pieces) are concentrated in the border areas with Ukraine.It sites in Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania.Gauge Railway in Russia and Ukraine is the same.Nevertheless, all the cars have to be interchanged.This takes at least two hours for passenger transport.Freightliner weeks can stand in line to perform permutations.

in 1968 developed the technology of automatic gauge change.This occurs at low speed without the participation of the employees of railways.

Of course, considering all these factors, many people prefer to send their goods by sea.Baltic ports are fully loaded.Representatives of European railway companies and the management of Russian Railways are constantly discussing the possibility of ways to improve connections in the automatic mode.