Iberian-gauge railways
Template:Short description Template:Sidebar track gauge Iberian gauge (Template:Langx, Template:Langx) is a track gauge of Template:RailGauge, most extensively used by the railways of Spain and Portugal. A broad gauge, it is the second-widest gauge in regular use anywhere in the world, with only Indian gauge railways, Template:RailGauge, being wider (by Template:Cvt).
As finally established in 1955,[1] the Iberian gauge is a compromise between the similar, but slightly different, gauges adopted as respective national standards in Spain and Portugal in the mid-19th century. The main railway networks of Spain were initially constructed to a Script error: No such module "Track gauge".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". gauge of six Castilian feet. Those of Portugal were instead built to a Script error: No such module "Track gauge".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". and later railways to a Script error: No such module "Track gauge".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". gauge of five Portuguese feet – close enough to allow interoperability with Spanish railways.[2]
Standard gauge
Since the beginning of the 1990s new high-speed passenger lines in Spain have been built to the international standard gauge of Script error: No such module "Track gauge".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., to allow these lines to link to the European high-speed network. Although the 22 km from Tardienta to Huesca (part of a branch from the Madrid to Barcelona high-speed line) has been reconstructed as mixed Iberic and standard gauge, in general the interface between the two gauges in Spain is dealt with by means of gauge-changing installations, which can adjust the gauge of appropriately designed wheelsets on the move.[3][4]
Plans exist to convert more of the Iberian-gauge network in Spain and Portugal to standard gauge, an indication of which is the use, on several stretches of recently relaid broad-gauge track, of concrete sleepers pre-drilled with additional bolt holes allowing for repositioning of one rail to adjust the track to standard gauge (or to dual gauge) or the narrowing of the gauge by moving both rails closer together maintaining the perfect alignment of the loading gauge.[5][6]
Similar gauges and compatibility
The Indian gauge (Template:RailGauge) is closely similar, with only Script error: No such module "convert". difference, and allows compatibility with the rolling stock. For example, in recent years Chile and Argentina have bought second hand Spanish/Portuguese Iberian-gauge rolling stock. 1,668 mm trains can run on 1,676 mm gauge without adaptation, but for better stability in high-speed running a replacement wheelset may be required (for example, the Russian-Finnish train Allegro is built for a 1,522 mm track gauge, intermediate between the Russian 1,520 mm and the Finnish 1,524 mm). Backward compatibility—1,676 mm trains on 1,668 mm gauge—is possible, but no examples and data exist. Due to the somewhat narrower gauge, a strong wear of the wheels may occur if the wheelset is not replaced.
Iberian-gauge railway networks
| Country/territory | Railway |
|---|---|
| Portugal | Infraestruturas de Portugal network. Adjusted from the original Script error: No such module "Track gauge".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". in the 19th century. Other gauges used in Portugal: Script error: No such module "Track gauge".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".[7] or Script error: No such module "Track gauge".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".[8] (Azores), Template:RailGauge, Template:RailGauge, Script error: No such module "Track gauge".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., and Script error: No such module "Track gauge".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
| Spain | Adjusted from the original Script error: No such module "Track gauge".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". in the 19th century. Adif-managed national railway network (except new high-speed railway lines). Although Lleida–La Pobla de Segur Line is both managed and operated by Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC), it was formerly part of the national railway network and was constructed to the Script error: No such module "Track gauge".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". gauge. Barcelona Metro line 1 still uses the former 1674 mm gauge.[9] |
See also
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References
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- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ The gauge of the early Portuguese lines built to the "English" (later: international) gauge was subsequently altered to Iberian to ensure interoperability – Assim, em 20 de Junho de 1860, funda a Companhia Real dos Caminhos de Ferro Portugueses que se propõe explorar as Linhas do Norte e do Leste e as linhas de que posteriormente obtivesse concessão. Thus, on June 20, 1860, founded the Society of Real Caminhos de Ferro Portugueses it proposes to exploit the lines of North and the East and the lines that subsequently obtain concession. De imediato a Companhia Real muda a bitola (1,44 metros) da linha já construída entre Lisboa e Asseca (68 Km.), passando-a para a bitola ibérica, com 1,67 metros, sem haver qualquer interrupção no serviço ferroviário. From immediate changes to the Company Real gauge (1.44 m) of the line already built between Lisbon and of Asseca (68 km), passing it to gauge the Iberian, with 1.67 metres, without any interruption in rail service. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1". [1]
- ↑ Talgo Date=2008-09-04 Template:Webarchive
- ↑ :: CAF - Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles, we create railway solutions :: Template:Webarchive
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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