![Why London Underground is nicknamed The Tube](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/93/Why_London_Underground_is_nicknamed_The_Tube.jpg)
A loading gauge is a diagram or physical structure that defines the maximum height and width dimensions in
railway
Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport that transfers passengers and goods on wheeled vehicles running on rails, which are incorporated in tracks. In contrast to road transport, where the vehicles run on a pre ...
vehicles
A vehicle (from la, vehiculum) is a machine that transports people or cargo. Vehicles include wagons, bicycles, motor vehicles (motorcycles, cars, trucks, buses, mobility scooters for disabled people), railed vehicles (trains, trams), ...
and their loads. Their purpose is to ensure that rail vehicles can pass safely through tunnels and under bridges, and keep clear of platforms, trackside buildings and structures. Classification systems vary between different countries, and gauges may vary across a network, even if the
track gauge
In rail transport, track gauge (in American English, alternatively track gage) is the distance between the two rails of a railway track. All vehicles on a rail network must have wheelsets that are compatible with the track gauge. Since many ...
is uniform.
The term loading gauge can also be applied to the maximum size of road
vehicle
A vehicle (from la, vehiculum) is a machine that transports people or cargo. Vehicles include wagons, bicycles, motor vehicles (motorcycles, cars, trucks, buses, mobility scooters for disabled people), railed vehicles (trains, trams), ...
s in relation to
tunnel
A tunnel is an underground passageway, dug through surrounding soil, earth or rock, and enclosed except for the entrance and exit, commonly at each end. A pipeline is not a tunnel, though some recent tunnels have used immersed tube cons ...
s,
overpasses and
bridge
A bridge is a structure built to span a physical obstacle (such as a body of water, valley, road, or rail) without blocking the way underneath. It is constructed for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle, which is usually somethi ...
s, and
doors
A door is a hinged or otherwise movable barrier that allows ingress (entry) into and egress (exit) from an enclosure. The created opening in the wall is a ''doorway'' or ''portal''. A door's essential and primary purpose is to provide security by ...
into
automobile repair shop
An automobile repair shop (also known regionally as a garage or a workshop) is an establishment where automobiles are repaired by auto mechanics and technicians.
Types
Automotive garages and repair shops can be divided into following categor ...
s,
bus garages,
filling station
A filling station, also known as a gas station () or petrol station (), is a facility that sells fuel and engine lubricants for motor vehicles. The most common fuels sold in the 2010s were gasoline (or petrol) and diesel fuel.
Ga ...
s,
residential garages,
multi-storey car park
A multistorey car park ( British and Singapore English) or parking garage (American English), also called a multistory, parking building, parking structure, parkade (mainly Canadian), parking ramp, parking deck or indoor parking, is a bui ...
s and
warehouse
A warehouse is a building for storing goods. Warehouses are used by manufacturers, importers, exporters, wholesalers, transport businesses, customs, etc. They are usually large plain buildings in industrial parks on the outskirts of cities ...
s.
A related but separate gauge is the
structure gauge
A structure gauge, also called the minimum clearance outline, is a diagram or physical structure that sets limits to the extent that bridges, tunnels and other infrastructure can encroach on rail vehicles. It specifies the height and width of pl ...
, which sets limits to the extent that bridges, tunnels and other infrastructure can encroach on rail vehicles. The difference between these two gauges is called the
clearance. The specified amount of clearance makes allowance for
wobbling of rail vehicles at speed.
Overview
![London Underground subsurface and tube trains](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b8/London_Underground_subsurface_and_tube_trains.jpg)
The loading gauge restricts the size of passenger coaches, goods wagons (freight cars) and
shipping containers
A shipping container is a container with strength suitable to withstand shipment, storage, and handling. Shipping containers range from large reusable steel boxes used for intermodal shipments to the ubiquitous corrugated box design, corrugated b ...
that can travel on a section of railway track. It varies across the world and often within a single railway system. Over time there has been a trend towards larger loading gauges and more standardization of gauges; some older lines have had their
structure gauge
A structure gauge, also called the minimum clearance outline, is a diagram or physical structure that sets limits to the extent that bridges, tunnels and other infrastructure can encroach on rail vehicles. It specifies the height and width of pl ...
s enhanced by raising bridges, increasing the height and width of tunnels and making other necessary alterations.
Containerisation
Containerization is a system of intermodal freight transport using intermodal containers (also called shipping containers and ISO containers). Containerization is also referred as "Container Stuffing" or "Container Loading", which is the p ...
and a trend towards larger
shipping containers
A shipping container is a container with strength suitable to withstand shipment, storage, and handling. Shipping containers range from large reusable steel boxes used for intermodal shipments to the ubiquitous corrugated box design, corrugated b ...
has led rail companies to increase structure gauges to compete effectively with road haulage.
The term "loading gauge" can also refer to a physical structure, sometimes using electronic detectors using
light beams on an arm or gantry placed over the exit lines of goods yards or at the entry point to a restricted part of a network. The devices ensure that loads stacked on open or flat wagons stay within the height/shape limits of the line's bridges and tunnels, and prevent out-of-gauge rolling stock entering a stretch of line with a smaller loading gauge. Compliance with a loading gauge can be checked with a
clearance car
A clearance car is a type of railroad car in maintenance of way service. Its purpose is to check the clearances around the tracks and ensure that trains conforming to the railroad's standard loading gauge or ''dynamic envelope'' will not encou ...
. In the past, these were simple wooden frames or physical feelers mounted on rolling stock. More recently,
laser
A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation. The word "laser" is an acronym for "light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation". The fi ...
beams are used.
The loading gauge is the maximum size of rolling stock. It is distinct from the
minimum structure gauge, which sets limits to the size of bridges and tunnels on the line, allowing for
engineering tolerance
Engineering tolerance is the permissible limit or limits of variation in:
# a physical dimension;
# a measured value or physical property of a material, manufactured object, system, or service;
# other measured values (such as temperature, hum ...
s and the motion of rail vehicles. The difference between the two is called the
clearance. The terms "dynamic
envelope
An envelope is a common packaging item, usually made of thin, flat material. It is designed to contain a flat object, such as a letter or card.
Traditional envelopes are made from sheets of paper cut to one of three shapes: a rhombus, a sh ...
" or "kinematic envelope" – which include factors such as suspension travel, overhang on curves (at both ends and middle) and lateral motion on the track – are sometimes used in place of loading gauge.
The
height of platforms is also a consideration for the loading gauge of passenger trains. Where the two are not directly compatible, stairs may be required, which will increase
loading times. Where long carriages are used at a curved platform, there will be
gaps between the platform and the carriage door, causing risk. Problems increase where trains of several different loading gauges and train floor heights use (or even must pass without stopping at) the same platform.
The size of load that can be carried on a railway of a particular gauge is also influenced by the design of the rolling stock. Low-deck rolling stock can sometimes be used to carry taller shipping containers on lower gauge lines although their low-deck rolling stock cannot then carry as many containers.
Rapid Transit
Rapid transit or mass rapid transit (MRT), also known as heavy rail or metro, is a type of high-capacity public transport generally found in urban areas. A rapid transit system that primarily or traditionally runs below the surface may be ...
(metro) railways generally have a very small loading gauge, which reduces the cost of tunnel construction. These systems only use their own specialised rolling stock.
Out of gauge
Larger ''out-of-gauge'' loads can also sometimes be conveyed by taking one or more of the following measures:
* Operate at low speed, especially in places with limited clearance, such as platforms.
* Cross over from a track with inadequate clearance to another track with greater clearance, even if there is no signalling to allow this.
* Prevent operation of other trains on adjacent tracks.
* Use refuge loops to allow trains to operate on other tracks.
* Use of
Schnabel car
A Schnabel car or Schnabel wagon is a specialized type of railroad freight car. It is designed to carry heavy and oversized loads in such a way that the load makes up part of the car. The load is suspended between the two ends of the cars by lif ...
s (special rolling stock) that manipulate the load up and down or left and right to clear obstacles.
* Remove (and later replace) obstacles.
* Use
gauntlet track
Gauntlet track or interlaced track (also gantlet track) is an arrangement in which railway tracks run parallel on a single track bed and are interlaced (i.e., overlapped) in such a way that only one pair of rails can be used at any time. Since th ...
to shift the train to side or center.
* For locomotives that are too heavy, ensure that fuel tanks are nearly empty.
* Turn off power in overhead wiring or in the third rail (use diesel locomotive)
* Permanently adapt a certain route to larger gauge if there is repeated need for such trains.
History
The loading gauge on the main lines of Great Britain, most of which were built before 1900, is generally smaller than in other countries. In mainland Europe, the slightly larger
Berne gauge (Gabarit passe-partout international, PPI) was agreed to in 1913 and came into force in 1914. As a result, British trains have noticeably and considerably smaller loading gauges and, for passenger trains, smaller interiors, despite the track being
standard gauge, which is in line with much of the world.
This often results in increased costs for purchasing new trainsets or locomotives as they must be specifically designed for the existing British network, rather than being purchased "off-the-shelf". For example, the new trains for
HS2
High Speed 2 (HS2) is a planned high-speed railway line in England, the first phase of which is under construction in stages and due for completion between 2029 and 2033, depending on approval for later stages. The new line will run from its m ...
have a 50% premium applied to the "classic compatible" sets that will be "compatible" with the current (or "classic") rail network loading gauge as well as the HS2 line. The "classic compatible" trainsets will cost £40million per trainset whereas the HS2-only stock (built to European loading gauge and only suitable to operate on HS2 lines) will cost £27M per trainset despite the HS2-only stock being physically larger.
It was recognized even during the nineteenth century that this would pose problems and countries whose railroads had been built or upgraded to a more generous loading gauge pressed for neighboring countries to upgrade their own standards. This was particularly true in continental Europe where the Nordic countries and Germany with their relatively generous loading gauge wanted their cars and locomotives to be able to run throughout the
standard gauge network without being limited to a small size. France, which at the time had the most restrictive loading gauge ultimately compromised giving rise to
Berne gauge which came into effect just before World War I.
Military railway
The military use of railways derives from their ability to move troops or materiel rapidly and, less usually, on their use as a platform for military systems, like very large railroad guns and armoured trains, in their own right. Railways have ...
s were often built to particularly high standards, especially after the
American Civil War
The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states ...
and the
Franco-Prussian War showed the importance of railroads in
troop transport
A troopship (also troop ship or troop transport or trooper) is a ship used to carry soldiers, either in peacetime or wartime. Troopships were often drafted from commercial shipping fleets, and were unable land troops directly on shore, typicall ...
as well as
mobilization
Mobilization is the act of assembling and readying military troops and supplies for war. The word ''mobilization'' was first used in a military context in the 1850s to describe the preparation of the Prussian Army. Mobilization theories and ...
. The
Kaiserreich
Kaiserreich may refer to:
*Empire, state ruled by an emperor
*Holy Roman Empire (800/962–1806)
*Austrian Empire (1804–1867)
* Austro-Hungarian Empire (1867–1918)
* German Empire (1871–1918)
*'' Kaiserreich: Legacy of the Weltkrieg'', a mod ...
was particularly active in the construction of military railways which were often built with great expense to be as flat, straight and permissive in loading gauge as possible while bypassing major urban areas, making those lines of little use to civilian traffic, particularly civilian passenger traffic. However, all those aforementioned factors have in some cases led to the subsequent abandoning of those railroads.
Standard loading gauges for standard track gauge lines
International Union of Railways (UIC) Gauge
![Railway Loading gauge UIC and containers profile -ISO](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4e/Railway_Loading_gauge_UIC_and_containers_profile_-ISO.png)
The
International Union of Railways (UIC) has developed a standard series of loading gauges named A, B, B+ and C.
* PPI – the predecessor of the UIC gauges had the maximum dimensions with an almost round roof top.
* UIC A: The smallest (slightly larger than PPI gauge).
[ Images do not load] Maximum dimensions .
[
* UIC B: Most of the high-speed TGV tracks in France are built to UIC B.][ Maximum dimensions .]
* UIC B+: New structures in France are being built to UIC B+.[ Up to has a shape to accommodate tractor-trailers loaded with ]ISO container
An intermodal container, often called a shipping container, is a large standardized shipping container, designed and built for intermodal freight transport, meaning these containers can be used across different modes of transport – from ship ...
s.
* UIC C: The Central European gauge. In Germany and other central European countries, the railway systems are built to UIC C gauges, sometimes with an increment in the width, allowing Scandinavian trains to reach German stations directly, originally built for Soviet freight cars. Maximum dimensions .[
]
Europe
European standards
In the European Union
The European Union (EU) is a supranational political and economic union of member states that are located primarily in Europe. The union has a total area of and an estimated total population of about 447million. The EU has often been de ...
, the UIC directives were supplanted by ERA Technical Specifications for Interoperability
A technical specification for interoperability (abbreviated as TSI) is a text provided for in European Directive 2016/797 adopted by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union on the interoperability of the European rail system ...
(TSI) of European Union in 2002, which has defined a number of recommendations to harmonize the train systems. The TSI Rolling Stock (2002/735/EC) has taken over the UIC Gauges definitions defining Kinematic Gauges with a reference profile such that Gauges GA and GB have a height of (they differ in shape) with Gauge GC rising to allowing for a width of of the flat roof. All cars must fall within an envelope of wide on a radius curve. The TGV
The TGV (french: Train à Grande Vitesse, "high-speed train"; previously french: TurboTrain à Grande Vitesse, label=none) is France's intercity high-speed rail service, operated by SNCF. SNCF worked on a high-speed rail network from 1966 to 19 ...
s, which are wide, fall within this limit.
The designation of a GB+ loading gauge refers to the plan to create a pan-European freight network for ISO containers
ISO 668 - Series 1 freight containers — Classification, dimensions and ratings is an ISO international standard which classifies intermodal freight shipping containers ''nominally'', and standardizes their sizes, measurements and weight spec ...
and trailers with loaded ISO containers. These container trains ('' piggy-back trains'') fit into the B envelope with a flat top so that only minor changes are required for the widespread structures built to loading gauge B on continental Europe. Currently, some structures on the British Isles are extended to fit with GB+ as well, where the first lines to be rebuilt start at the Channel Tunnel.
Owing to their historical legacies, many member states' railways do not conform to the TSI specification. For example, Britain
Britain most often refers to:
* The United Kingdom, a sovereign state in Europe comprising the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and many smaller islands
* Great Britain, the largest island in the United King ...
's role at the forefront of railway development in the 19th century has condemned it to the small infrastructure dimensions of that era. Conversely, the s of countries that were satellites of the former Soviet Union, such as those in Finland, are much larger than the TSI specification. Other than for GB+, they are not likely to be retrofitted, given the enormous cost and disruption that would be entailed.
Double-decker carriages
A specific example of the value of these loading gauges is that they permit double decker passenger carriages. Although mainly used for suburban commuter lines, France is notable for using them on its high speed TGV services: the SNCF TGV Duplex
The TGV Duplex is a French high-speed train of the TGV family, manufactured by Alstom, and operated by the French national railway company SNCF. It is unique among TGV trains in that it features bi-level carriages. The Duplex inaugurated the t ...
carriages are high, and the Netherlands and Switzerland feature large numbers of double decker intercity trains as well.
Great Britain
Great Britain has (in general) the most restrictive loading gauge (relative to track gauge) in the world. That is a legacy of the British railway network being the world's oldest, and of having been built by a plethora of different private companies, each with different standards for the width and height of trains. After nationalisation, a standard static gauge W5 was defined in 1951 that would virtually fit everywhere in the network. The W6 gauge is a refinement of W5, and the W6a changed the lower body to accommodate third-rail electrification. While the upper body is rounded for W6a with a static curve, there is an additional small rectangular notch for W7 to accommodate the transport of ISO containers, and the W8 loading gauge has an even larger notch spanning outside of the curve to accommodate the transport of ISO containers. While W5 to W9 are based on a rounded roof structure, those for W10 to W12 define a flat line at the top and, instead of a strict static gauge for the wagons, their sizes are derived from dynamic gauge computations for rectangular freight containers.
Network Rail
Network Rail Limited is the owner (via its subsidiary Network Rail Infrastructure Limited, which was known as Railtrack plc before 2002) and infrastructure manager of most of the railway network in Great Britain. Network Rail is an "arm's leng ...
uses a ''W'' loading gauge classification system of freight transport ranging from W6A (smallest) through W7, W8, W9, W9Plus, W10, W11 to W12 (largest). The definitions assume a common "lower sector structure gauge" with a common freight platform at above rail.
In addition, gauge C1 provides a specification for standard coach stock, gauge C3 for longer Mark 3 coaching stock, gauge C4 for Pendolino
Pendolino (from Italian ''pendolo'' "pendulum", and ''-ino,'' a diminutive suffix) is an Italian family of tilting trains used in Italy, Spain, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Finland, Russia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, the UK, the US, ...
stock and gauge UK1 for high-speed rail. There is also a gauge for locomotives. The size of container that can be conveyed depends both upon the size of the load that can be conveyed and the design of the rolling stock.
* W6a: Available over the majority of the British rail network.
* W8: Allows standard high shipping containers to be carried on standard wagons.
* W9: Allows high ''Hi-Cube'' shipping containers to be carried on " Megafret" wagons that have lower deck height with reduced capacity.[ At wide, it allows for wide ''Euro'' shipping containers,] which are designed to carry Euro- pallets efficiently[
* W10: Allows high ''Hi-Cube'' shipping containers to be carried on standard wagons][ and also allows wide ''Euro'' shipping containers.][ Larger than UIC A.][
* W11: Little used but larger than UIC B.
* W12: Slightly wider than W10 at to accommodate refrigerated containers. Recommended clearance for new structures, such as bridges and tunnels.]
* UIC GC: Channel Tunnel and Channel Tunnel Rail Link to London; with proposals to enable GB+ northwards from London via an upgraded Midland Main Line
The Midland Main Line is a major railway line in England from London to Nottingham and Sheffield in the Midlands. It comprises the lines from London's St Pancras station via Leicester, Derby/Nottingham and Chesterfield in the East Midlands ...
.
A strategy was adopted in 2004 to guide enhancements of loading gauges and in 2007 the freight route utilisation strategy
The Freight Route Utilisation Strategy is a Route Utilisation Strategy in the United Kingdom, published by Network Rail in March 2007. It is one of only two (the Network Route Utilisation Strategy, Network RUS is the other) which have the perspec ...
was published. That identified a number of key routes where the loading gauge should be cleared to W10 standard and, where structures are being renewed, that W12 is the preferred standard.
Height and width of containers that can be carried on GB gauges (height by width). Units as per source material.
* W9: by
* W10: by
* W11: by
* W12: by
=Tube lines
=
* City and South London Railway
The City and South London Railway (C&SLR) was the first successful deep-level underground "tube" railway in the world, and the first major railway to use electric traction. The railway was originally intended for cable-hauled trains, but owing ...
was built with tunnels of only diameter. Enlarged for Northern line
The Northern line is a London Underground line that runs from North London to South London. It is printed in black on the Tube map. The Northern line is unique on the Underground network in having two different routes through central London, tw ...
to
* Central line with tunnels of , increased on curves, reduced to near to stations. This makes Central line trains unique on the London Underground
The London Underground (also known simply as the Underground or by its nickname the Tube) is a rapid transit system serving Greater London and some parts of the adjacent counties of Buckinghamshire, Essex and Hertfordshire in England.
The ...
system because, although the loading gauge of the rolling stock is the same as the other 'tube' lines, the smaller size of the tunnel requires that the positive conductor rail is higher than on all other lines.
A Parliamentary committee headed by James Stansfeld
Sir James Stansfeld, (; 5 March 182017 February 1898) was a British Radical and Liberal politician and social reformer who served as Under-Secretary of State for India (1866), Financial Secretary to the Treasury (1869–71) and President ...
then reported on 23 May 1892, "The evidence submitted to the Committee on the question of the diameter of the underground tubes containing the railways has been distinctly in favour of a minimum diameter of ". After that, all tube lines were at least that size.
* Piccadilly line with tunnels of
* Victoria line
The Victoria line is a London Underground line that runs between in south London and in the north-east, via the West End. It is printed in light blue on the Tube map and is one of the only two lines on the network to run completely underg ...
with tunnels of ; enlarged to reduce air friction.
* Glasgow Subway with tunnels of and a unique track gauge of only .
* Tyne and Wear Metro
The Tyne and Wear Metro is an overground and underground light rail rapid transit system serving Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, and the City of Sunderland (together forming Tyne and Wear). The network opened in ...
with tunnels of ; built to mainline rail network standards.
Sweden
Sweden uses shapes similar to the Central European loading gauge but trains allowed to be much wider.
There are three main classes in use (width × height):
* Class SE-A is . Similar to OPS-NL (Netherlands), Victorian (Australia) and Chinese loading gauges.
* Class SE-B is . Similar to Norwegian loading gauge.
* Class SE-C is with a completely flat roof top. Similar to OPS-GC (Netherlands) loading gauge.
Malmbanan
The Iron Ore Line ( sv, Malmbanan) is a long railway line between Riksgränsen and Boden in Norrbotten County, Sweden, owned by Trafikverket (the Swedish Transport Administration). The line also contains two branches, from Kiruna to Svappavaar ...
north of Kiruna was the first electrified railway line in Sweden and has limited height clearance (SE-B) because of snow shelters. On the rest of the network belonging to Trafikverket
The Swedish Transport Administration ( sv, Trafikverket) is a government agency in Sweden, controlled by the Riksdag and the Government of Sweden. It is responsible for long-term infrastructure planning for transport: road, rail, shipping and avi ...
, the structure gauge
A structure gauge, also called the minimum clearance outline, is a diagram or physical structure that sets limits to the extent that bridges, tunnels and other infrastructure can encroach on rail vehicles. It specifies the height and width of pl ...
accepts cars built to SE-A and thus accepts both cars built to UIC GA and GB. Some modern electric multiple-units, like Regina X50 with derivatives, are somewhat wider than normally permitted by SE-A at . This is generally acceptable as the extra width is above normal platform height, but it means that they can not use the high platforms that Arlanda Express
Arlanda Express is an airport rail link connecting Stockholm Central Station with the Stockholm Arlanda Airport outside Stockholm, Sweden. Operated by A-Train AB, the trip takes 18 minutes and runs four to six times per hour using seven X3 ele ...
uses (Arlanda Central Station
Arlanda Central Station ( sv, Arlanda centralstation) or Arlanda C is a railway station on the Arlanda Line serving Stockholm-Arlanda Airport in Sweden. It is served by regional, intercity, and night trains operated by SJ, and since December 201 ...
has normal clearances). The greater width allows sleeping cars in which tall people can sleep with straight legs and feet, which is not the case on the continent.
Netherlands
In the Netherlands, a similar shape to the UIC C is used that rises to in height. The trains are wider allowing for width similar to Sweden. About one third of the Dutch passenger trains use bilevel rail cars. However, Dutch platforms are much higher than Swedish ones.
= Betuweroute
=
* Betuweroute
The Betuweroute is a double track freight railway between Rotterdam and Germany. is the official name, after the Betuwe area through which the route passes. The line is popularly called Betuwelijn, after an older track in the same region. Th ...
: to allow double stacked container trains in the future. The present overhead line
An overhead line or overhead wire is an electrical cable that is used to transmit electrical energy to electric locomotives, trolleybuses or trams. It is known variously as:
* Overhead catenary
* Overhead contact system (OCS)
* Overhead equipm ...
does not allow this height, as it has to follow standards.
Channel Tunnel
* Channel Tunnel:
North America
Freight
The American loading gauge for freight cars
A railroad car, railcar (American and Canadian English), railway wagon, railway carriage, railway truck, railwagon, railcarriage or railtruck (British English and UIC), also called a train car, train wagon, train carriage or train truck, is a ...
on the North American rail network is generally based on standards set by the Association of American Railroads
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) is an industry trade group representing primarily the major freight Rail transport, railroads of North America (Canada, Mexico and the United States). Amtrak and some regional Commuter rail in North Am ...
(AAR) Mechanical Division. The most widespread standards are ''AAR Plate-B'' and ''AAR Plate-C'', but higher loading gauges have been introduced on major routes outside urban centers to accommodate rolling stock that makes better economic use of the network, such as auto carriers, hi-cube boxcars, and double-stack container loads. The maximum width of on and truck
A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo, carry specialized payloads, or perform other utilitarian work. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, but the vast majority feature body-on-frame constructi ...
centers is valid on a radius curve.
Listed here are the maximum heights and widths for cars. However, the specification in each plate shows a car cross section that is chamfered at the top and bottom, meaning that a compliant car is not permitted to fill an entire rectangle of the maximum height and width.
Technically, Plate B is still the maximum height and truck center combination and the circulation of Plate C is somewhat restricted. The prevalence of excess-height rolling stock, at first ~ piggybacks and hicube boxcars, then later autorack
An autorack, also known as an auto carrier (also car transporter outside the US), is a specialized piece of railroad rolling stock used to transport automobiles and light trucks. Autoracks are used to transport new vehicles from factories to ...
s, airplane-parts cars, and flatcars for hauling Boeing 737
The Boeing 737 is a narrow-body aircraft produced by Boeing at its Boeing Renton Factory, Renton Factory in Washington (state), Washington.
Developed to supplement the Boeing 727 on short and thin routes, the twinjet retains the Boeing 707, 7 ...
fuselages, as well as high double-stacked containers
A container is any receptacle or enclosure for holding a product used in storage, packaging, and transportation, including shipping.
Things kept inside of a container are protected on several sides by being inside of its structure. The term ...
in container well cars, has been increasing. This means that most, if not all, lines are now designed for a higher loading gauge. The width of these extra-height cars is covered by Plates C-1, D-1 and D-2.
All the Class I rail companies have invested in longterm projects to increase clearances to allow double stack freight. The mainline North American rail networks of the Union Pacific, the BNSF, the Canadian National, and the Canadian Pacific, have already been upgraded to AAR Plate K. This represents over 60% of the Class I rail network.
Passenger service
The old standard North American passenger railcar is wide by high and measures over coupler pulling faces with truck
A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo, carry specialized payloads, or perform other utilitarian work. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, but the vast majority feature body-on-frame constructi ...
centers, or over coupler pulling faces with truck centers. In the 1940s and 1950s, the American passenger car loading gauge was increased to a height throughout most of the country outside the Northeast, to accommodate dome car
A dome car is a type of railway passenger car that has a glass dome on the top of the car where passengers can ride and see in all directions around the train. It also can include features of a coach, lounge car, dining car, sleeping car or obse ...
s and later Superliners and other bilevel commuter trains. Bilevel and Hi-level passenger cars have been in use since the 1950s, and new passenger equipment with a height of has been built for use in Alaska and the Canadian Rockies. The structure gauge
A structure gauge, also called the minimum clearance outline, is a diagram or physical structure that sets limits to the extent that bridges, tunnels and other infrastructure can encroach on rail vehicles. It specifies the height and width of pl ...
of the Mount Royal Tunnel
The Mount Royal Tunnel (french: tunnel sous le mont Royal, tunnel du mont Royal) is a railway tunnel in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The tunnel is the third longest in Canada, after the Mount Macdonald Tunnel and the Connaught Tunnel, and connects ...
limits the height of bilevel cars to .
New York City Subway
The New York City Subway is an amalgamation of three former constituent companies, and while all are standard gauge, inconsistencies in loading gauge prevent cars from the former BMT and IND
Ind or IND may refer to:
General
* Independent (politician), a politician not affiliated to any political party
* Independent station, used within television program listings and the television industry for a station that is not affiliated with ...
systems (B Division B Division, Division B, or variant may refer to:
* ''B Division'' (New York City Subway)
* ''B Division'' (Irish League), association football
* ''Division B'' (Scottish Football League)
* ''Divizia B'' (Romanian Football League)
* Moldovan "B ...
) from running on the lines of the former IRT system ( A Division), and vice versa. This is mainly because IRT tunnels and stations are approximately narrower than the others, meaning that IRT cars running on the BMT or IND lines would have platform gap
A platform gap (also known technically as the platform train interface or PTI in some countries) is the space between a train car (or other mass transit vehicle) and the edge of the station platform, often created by geometric constraints, histor ...
s of over between the train and some platforms, whereas BMT and IND cars would not even fit into an IRT station without hitting the platform edge. Taking this into account, all maintenance vehicles are built to IRT loading gauge so that they can be operated over the entire network, and employees are responsible for minding the gap
''Minding the Gap'' is a 2018 documentary film directed by Bing Liu. It was produced by Liu and Diane Moy Quon through Kartemquin Films. It chronicles the lives and friendships of three young men growing up in Rockford, Illinois, united by th ...
.
Another inconsistency is the maximum permissible railcar length. Cars in the former IRT system are . Railcars in the former BMT and IND can be longer: on the former Eastern Division, the cars are limited to , while on the rest of the BMT and IND lines plus the Staten Island Railway (which uses modified IND stock) the cars may be as long as .
Boston (MBTA)
The MBTA's rapid transit system is composed of four unique subway lines; while all lines are standard gauge, inconsistencies in loading gauge, electrification, and platform height prevent trains on one line from being used on another. The first segment of the Green Line (known as the Tremont Street Subway
The Tremont Street subway in Boston's MBTA subway system is the oldest subway tunnel in North America and the third oldest still in use worldwide to exclusively use electric traction (after the City and South London Railway in 1890, and the Bud ...
) was constructed in 1897 to take the streetcars off Boston
Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...
's busy downtown streets. When the Blue Line opened in 1904, it only ran streetcar services; the line was converted to rapid transit in 1924 due to high passenger loads, but the tight clearances in the tunnel under the Boston Harbor
Boston Harbor is a natural harbor and estuary of Massachusetts Bay, and is located adjacent to the city of Boston, Massachusetts. It is home to the Port of Boston, a major shipping facility in the northeastern United States.
History
...
required narrower and shorter rapid transit cars. The Orange Line was originally built in 1901 to accommodate heavy rail transit cars of higher capacity than streetcars. The Red Line was opened in 1912, designed to handle what were for a time the largest underground transit cars in the world.
Los Angeles (LACMTA)
The Los Angeles Metro Rail system is an amalgamation of two former constituent companies, the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission
The Southern California Rapid Transit District (almost always referred to as ''RTD'' or rarely as ''SCRTD'') was a public transportation agency established in 1964 to serve the Greater Los Angeles area. It was the successor to the original Los ...
and the Southern California Rapid Transit District
The Southern California Rapid Transit District (almost always referred to as ''RTD'' or rarely as ''SCRTD'') was a public transportation agency established in 1964 to serve the Greater Los Angeles area. It was the successor to the original Los ...
; both of those companies were responsible for planning the initial system. It is composed of two heavy rail subway lines and several light rail lines with subway sections; while all lines are standard gauge, inconsistencies in electrification and loading gauge prohibit the light rail trains from operating on the heavy rail lines, and vice versa. The LACTC-planned Blue Line was opened in 1990 and partially operates on the route of the Pacific Electric interurban railroad line between downtown Los Angeles and Long Beach, which used overhead electrification and street-running streetcar vehicles. The SCRTD-planned Red Line (later split into the Red and Purple
Purple is any of a variety of colors with hue between red and blue. In the RGB color model used in computer and television screens, purples are produced by mixing red and blue light. In the RYB color model historically used by painters, ...
lines) was opened in 1993 and was designed to handle high-capacity heavy rail transit cars that would operate underground. Shortly after the Red Line began operations, the LACTC and the SCRTD merged to form the LACMTA
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA), commonly branded as Metro, LA Metro, and L.A. Metro, is the state agency that plans, operates, and coordinates funding for most of the transportation system in Los Angel ...
, which became responsible for planning and construction of the Green
Green is the color between cyan and yellow on the visible spectrum. It is evoked by light which has a dominant wavelength of roughly 495570 nm. In subtractive color systems, used in painting and color printing, it is created by a combi ...
, Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au (from la, aurum) and atomic number 79. This makes it one of the higher atomic number elements that occur naturally. It is a bright, slightly orange-yellow, dense, soft, malleable, and ductile me ...
, Expo
An expo is a trade exposition. It may also refer to:
Events and venues
* World's fair, a large international public exposition
* Singapore Expo, convention and exposition venue
** Expo Axis, one of the world's largest membrane roofs, constructe ...
, and K lines, as well as the Purple Line Extension
The Purple Line Extension, formerly known as the Westside Subway Extension and the Subway to the Sea, is a new heavy-rail subway corridor in Los Angeles County, California, extending the D Line (Purple Line) from its current terminus at in Kor ...
and the Regional Connector.
Asia
Major trunk raillines in East Asian countries, including China, North Korea, South Korea, as well as the Shinkansen
The , colloquially known in English as the bullet train, is a network of high-speed railway lines in Japan. Initially, it was built to connect distant Japanese regions with Tokyo, the capital, to aid economic growth and development. Beyond l ...
of Japan, have all adopted a loading gauge of maximum width and can accept the maximum height of .
China
The max. height, width, and length of general Chinese rolling stock are , and , with an extra ''out-of-gauge'' load allowance of height and width with some special shape limitation, corresponding to a structure gauge
A structure gauge, also called the minimum clearance outline, is a diagram or physical structure that sets limits to the extent that bridges, tunnels and other infrastructure can encroach on rail vehicles. It specifies the height and width of pl ...
of . China is building numerous new railways in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia (such as in Kenya and Laos), and these are being built to "Chinese Standards". This presumably means track gauge, loading gauge, structure gauge, couplings, brakes, electrification, etc. An exception may be double stacking, which has a height limit of . Metre gauge in China has a gauge of .
Japan, standard gauge
Translation of legend:
Trains on the Shinkansen
The , colloquially known in English as the bullet train, is a network of high-speed railway lines in Japan. Initially, it was built to connect distant Japanese regions with Tokyo, the capital, to aid economic growth and development. Beyond l ...
network operate on track and have a loading gauge of maximum width and maximum height. However some Shinkansen trains are higher, such as E1 Series Shinkansen
The was a high-speed Shinkansen train type operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) in Japan from July 1994 until September 2012. They were the first double-deck trains built for Japan's Shinkansen. They were generally, along with thei ...
. This allows the operation of double-deck high-speed trains.
''Mini Shinkansen'' (former conventional narrow gauge lines that have been regauged into ) and some private railways in Japan (including some lines of the Tokyo subway
The is a part of the extensive rapid transit system that consists of Tokyo Metro and the Toei Subway in Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba, the Greater Tokyo area of Japan. While the subway system itself is largely within the city center, the lines exten ...
and all of the Osaka Metro) also use standard gauge; however, their loading gauges are different.
The rest of Japan's system is discussed under narrow gauge
A narrow-gauge railway (narrow-gauge railroad in the US) is a railway with a track gauge narrower than standard . Most narrow-gauge railways are between and .
Since narrow-gauge railways are usually built with tighter curves, smaller structu ...
, below.
Hong Kong
South Korea
The body frame may have a maximum height of and a maximum width of with additional installations allowed up to . That width of 3,400 mm is only allowed above as the common passenger platforms are built to former standard trains of in width.
Philippines
There is currently no uniform standard for loading gauges in the country and both loading gauges and platform heights vary by rail line.
The North–South Commuter Railway
The North–South Commuter Railway (NSCR), also known as the Clark–Calamba Railway, is a urban rail transit system under construction in the island of Luzon, Philippines. Running from New Clark City in Capas to Calamba, Laguna with 36 sta ...
allows passenger trains with a carbody width of and a height of . Additional installations shall also be allowed up to at a platform height of where it is limited by half-height platform screen doors. Above the platform gate height of above the platforms, out-of-gauge installations can be further maximized to the Asian standard at .[NSCR and SLH bid documents at ]
Meanwhile, the PNR South Long Haul
The PNR South Long Haul Project, also known as PNR Bicol is an proposed inter-city rail line in southern Luzon, Philippines. It is part of the larger Luzon Rail System, a network of long-distance standard-gauge lines being built by the Philippin ...
will follow the Chinese gauge and therefore use a larger carbody width of from the specifications of passenger rolling stock, and a height of per P70-type boxcar specifications.
Africa
Some of the new railways being built in Africa allow for double-stacked containers, the height of which is about depending on the height of each container or plus the height of the deck of the flat wagon about totalling . This exceeds the China height standard for single stacked containers of . Additional height of about is needed for overhead wires for 25 kV AC
Railway electrification systems using alternating current (AC) at are used worldwide, especially for high-speed rail. It is usually supplied at the standard utility frequency (typically 50 or 60Hz), which simplifies traction substations. The dev ...
electrification.
The permissible width of the new African standard gauge railways is .
Australia
The standard gauge lines of New South Wales Government Railways
The New South Wales Government Railways (NSWGR) was the agency of the Government of New South Wales that administered rail transport in New South Wales, Australia, between 1855 and 1932.
Management
The agency was managed by a range of differen ...
(NSWGR) allowed for a width of until 1910, after a conference of the states created a new standard of , with corresponding increase in track centres. The narrow widths have mostly been eliminated, except, for example, at the mainline platforms at Gosford railway station
Gosford railway station is located on the Main Northern line in New South Wales, Australia. It serves the Central Coast city of Gosford, opening on 15 August 1887.
Between January 1960 and April 1982, Gosford was the northern extremity of the ...
and some sidings. The longest carriages are .
The Commonwealth Railways
The Commonwealth Railways were established in 1917 by the Government of Australia with the Commonwealth Railways Act to administer the Trans-Australia and Port Augusta to Darwin railways. It was absorbed into Australian National in 1975.
O ...
adopted the national standard of when they were established in 1912, although no connection with New South Wales was made until 1970.
A double deck Electric Tangara train of the late 1980s was wide. Track centres from Penrith railway station Penrith may refer to:
Australia
*Penrith, New South Wales, a satellite city of Sydney, Australia
**Penrith Stadium, home ground of the Penrith Panthers
**Penrith Bears, ice-hockey team
**City of Penrith, local government area
**Electoral district o ...
to Mount Victoria railway station
Mount Victoria railway station is a heritage-listed former barracks and now staff accommodation, guest accommodation, railway signal box and railway station located on the Main Western line in Mount Victoria in the City of Blue Mountains loc ...
and Gosford
Gosford is the city and administrative centre of the Central Coast Council local government area in the heart of the Central Coast region, about north of Sydney and about south of Newcastle. The city centre is situated at the northern extr ...
and Wyong
Wyong () is a town in the Central Coast of New South Wales, located approximately 63 km SSW of Newcastle and 89 km NNE of Sydney. Established in 1888, it is one of the two administrative centres for the local government area.
Hist ...
have been gradually widened to suit. The proposed Korean manufactured intercity sets are however wide, so further, costly modification was required beyond Springwood, which was completed in 2020.
The 1968 built Kwinana- Kalgoorlie standard gauge railway in Western Australia was built with a loading gauge of 12 ft (3.66 m) wide and 20 ft (6.1 m) tall to allow for trailer on flatcar (TOFC) traffic.
Broad gauge
Indian Gauge
* The smallest loading gauge for a railway of the gauge track is Delhi Metro
The Delhi Metro is a mass rapid transit (MRT) system serving Delhi and its satellite cities of Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Gurgaon, Noida, Bahadurgarh and Ballabhgarh, in the National Capital Region of India. The network consists of 10 colou ...
, which is wide and high.
* Indian Railways
Indian Railways (IR) is a statutory body under the ownership of Ministry of Railways, Government of India that operates India's national railway system. It manages the fourth largest national railway system in the world by size, with a tota ...
has a maximum passenger loading gauge of 3,660 mm and has a freight loading gauge of 3,250 mm with development allowing a loading gauge of 3,710 mm.
* Sri Lankan Railways has a loading gauge of between 3200 mm and 4267 mm.
Russian Gauge
In Finland, the rail cars can be up to wide with a permitted height from on the sides to in the middle. The track gauge
In rail transport, track gauge (in American English, alternatively track gage) is the distance between the two rails of a railway track. All vehicles on a rail network must have wheelsets that are compatible with the track gauge. Since many ...
is , differing from the Russian track gauge.
The Russian loading gauges are defined in standard GOST 9238 (ГОСТ 9238–83, ГОСТ 9238–2013) with the current 2013 standard named "Габариты железнодорожного подвижного состава и приближения строений" (construction of rolling stock clearance diagrams fficial English title. It was accepted by the to be valid in Russia, Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Armenia.
The standard defines static envelopes for trains on the national network as T, Tc and Tpr. The static profile 1-T is the common standard on the complete 1520 mm rail network including the CIS and Baltic states. The structure clearance is given as S, Sp and S250. There is a tradition that structure clearance is much bigger than the common train sizes. For international traffic, the standard references the kinematic envelope for GC and defines a modified GCru for its high-speed trains. For other international traffic, there are 1-T, 1-VM, 0-VM, 02-VM and 03-VMst/03-VMk for the trains and 1-SM for the structure clearance.
The main static profile T allows for a maximum width of rising to a maximum height of . The profile Tc allows that width only at a height of , requiring a maximum of below , which matches with the standard for train platforms (with a height of ). The profile Tpr has the same lower frame requirement but reduces the maximum upper body width to . The more universal profile 1-T has the complete body at a maximum width of still rising to a height of . Exceptions shall be double-stacking, maximum height shall be or .
The structure gauge S requires buildings to be placed at minimum of from the track centreline. Bridges and tunnels must have a clearance of at least wide and high. The structure gauge Sp for passenger platforms allows only above (the common platform height) requiring a width of below that line. The exceptions shall be double-stacking, minimum overhead wiring height must be (for maximum vehicle height of ) or (for maximum vehicle height of ).
The main platform is defined to have a height of at a distance of from the center of the track to allow for trains with profile T. Low platforms at a height of may be placed at from the center of the track. A medium platform is a variant of the high platform but at a height of . The latter matches with the TSI height in Central Europe. In the earlier standard from 1983, the profile T would only be allowed to pass low platforms at while the standard high platform for cargo and passenger platforms would be placed no less than from the center of the track. That matches with the Tc, Tpr and the universal 1-T loading gauge.
Iberian gauge
Irish Gauge
Ireland and Nortern Ireland
Australia
Brazil
Narrow gauge
Narrow gauge railways generally have a smaller loading gauge than standard gauge ones, and this is a major reason for cost savings rather than the railgauge itself. For example, the Lyn locomotive of the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway
The Lynton and Barnstaple Railway (L&B) opened as an independent railway in May 1898. It was a single track, narrow gauge railway and was slightly over long running through the rugged and picturesque area bordering Exmoor in North Devon, ...
is wide. By comparison, several standard gauge 73 class locomotives of the NSWR, which are wide, have been converted for use on cane tramways, where there are no narrow bridges, tunnels or track centres to cause trouble. The 6E1 locomotive of the South African Railways
Transnet Freight Rail is a South African rail transport company, formerly known as Spoornet. It was part of the South African Railways and Harbours Administration, a state-controlled organisation that employed hundreds of thousands of people ...
are wide.
A large numbers of railways using the gauge used the same rolling stock plans, which were wide.
Great Britain
Ffestiniog Railway
* gauge =
* width (brakevan mirrors) =
* width (brakevan body) =
* height =
* length = (carriage)
Lynton and Barnstaple Railway
* gauge =
* Lyn (locomotive)
''Lyn'' was a 2-4-2 tank steam locomotive built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1898 for the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway in England.
History
Between July 1897 and January 1898, employees of many British engineering companies were strikin ...
over headstocks
** length =
** width =
** height =
* Passenger
** length =
** width = wide,
** width over steps =
** height =
Japan, narrow gauge
Translation of legend:
The Japanese national network operated by Japan Railways Group
The Japan Railways Group, more commonly known as the or simply JR, consists of seven for-profit stock companies that took over most of the assets and operations of the government-owned Japanese National Railways (JNR) on April 1, 1987. Mo ...
employs narrow gauge . The maximum allowed width of the rolling stock is and maximum height is ; however, a number JR lines were constructed as private railways prior to nationalisation in the early 20th century, and feature loading gauges smaller than the standard. These include the Chūō Main Line west of Takao, the Minobu Line
The is a railway line in the Tōkai region of Japan operated by the Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central). It connects Fuji Station in Fuji, Shizuoka to Kōfu Station in Kōfu, Yamanashi, and the Tōkaidō Main Line with the Chūō Main ...
, and the Yosan Main Line west of Kan'onji ( height). Nevertheless, advances in pantograph
A pantograph (, from their original use for copying writing) is a mechanical linkage connected in a manner based on parallelograms so that the movement of one pen, in tracing an image, produces identical movements in a second pen. If a line dr ...
technology have largely eliminated the need for separate rolling stock in these areas.
There are many private railway companies in Japan and the loading gauge is different for each company.
South Africa
The South African national network employs gauge. The maximum width of the rolling stock
The term rolling stock in the rail transport industry refers to railway vehicles, including both powered and unpowered vehicles: for example, locomotives, freight and passenger cars (or coaches), and non-revenue cars. Passenger vehicles can ...
is and maximum height is , which is greater than the normal British loading gauge for standard gauge vehicles.
New Zealand
The railways use gauge. The maximum width of the rolling stock is and maximum height is .
Other
* gauge for the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
, Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone,)]. officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country on the southwest coast of West Africa. It is bordered by Liberia to the southeast and Guinea surrounds the northern half of the nation. Covering a total area of , Sierr ...
* Minimum railway curve radius, minimum radius
* width (see Everard Calthrop
Everard Richard Calthrop (3 March 1857 – 30 March 1927) was a British railway engineer and inventor. Calthrop was a notable promoter and builder of narrow-gauge railways, especially of narrow gauge, and was especially prominent in India. His ...
)
* wagon length freight over headstocks
* wagon length passenger over headstocks
* tank engine length over headstocks
Structure gauge
The structure gauge, which refers to the dimensions of the lowest and narrowest bridges or tunnels of the track, complements the loading gauge, which specifies the tallest and widest allowable vehicle dimensions. There is a gap between the structure gauge and loading gauge, and some allowance needs to be made for the dynamic movement of vehicles (sway) to avoid mechanical interference causing equipment and structural damage.
Out of gauge
While it may be true that trains of a particular loading gauge can travel freely over tracks of a matching structure gauge, in practice, problems can still occur. In an accident at Moston station, an old platform not normally used by freight trains was hit by a train that wasn't within its intended W6a gauge because two container fastenings were hanging over the side. Analysis showed that the properly configured train would have passed safely even though the platform couldn't handle the maximum design sway of W6a. Accepting reduced margins for old construction is normal practice if there have been no incidents but if the platform had met modern standards with greater safety margin the out of gauge train would have passed without incident.
Trains larger than the loading gauge, but not too large, can operate if the structure gauge is carefully measured, and the trip is subject to various special regulations.
Gallery
Image:Lichtraumprofilbrücke (001).JPG, Calibration bridge, used to indicate the maximum height of vehicles
A vehicle (from la, vehiculum) is a machine that transports people or cargo. Vehicles include wagons, bicycles, motor vehicles (motorcycles, cars, trucks, buses, mobility scooters for disabled people), railed vehicles (trains, trams), ...
on a highway
A highway is any public or private road or other public way on land. It is used for major roads, but also includes other public roads and public tracks. In some areas of the United States, it is used as an equivalent term to controlled-acces ...
.
File:BS Ladelehre Westbahnhof.JPG, German equipment outline gauge
File:Lademass.jpg, Template to check if the load is exactly within the loading gauge
File:Pont Ducharme Est.jpg, Structure gauge limiting the height of vehicles for Ducharme Bridge.
File:Loading gauge at Moccone.jpg, Equipment outline gauge at Moccone
File:Loading Gauge Eritrea.jpg, Eritrean loading gauge
See also
* Berne gauge
* Bridge
A bridge is a structure built to span a physical obstacle (such as a body of water, valley, road, or rail) without blocking the way underneath. It is constructed for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle, which is usually somethi ...
* Clearance car
A clearance car is a type of railroad car in maintenance of way service. Its purpose is to check the clearances around the tracks and ensure that trains conforming to the railroad's standard loading gauge or ''dynamic envelope'' will not encou ...
* Clearance space
* Cut
Cut may refer to:
Common uses
* The act of cutting, the separation of an object into two through acutely-directed force
** A type of wound
** Cut (archaeology), a hole dug in the past
** Cut (clothing), the style or shape of a garment
** Cut (ea ...
* Platform gap
A platform gap (also known technically as the platform train interface or PTI in some countries) is the space between a train car (or other mass transit vehicle) and the edge of the station platform, often created by geometric constraints, histor ...
* Over weight
* Railway platform height
Railway platform height is the built height – ''above top of rail (ATR)'' – of passenger platforms at stations. A connected term is ''train floor height'', which refers to the ATR height of the floor of rail vehicles. Worldwide, there are m ...
* Ride height
Ride height or ground clearance is the amount of space between the base of an automobile tire and the lowest point of the automobile (typically the axle); or, more properly, to the shortest distance between a flat, level surface, and the lowest p ...
* Structure gauge
A structure gauge, also called the minimum clearance outline, is a diagram or physical structure that sets limits to the extent that bridges, tunnels and other infrastructure can encroach on rail vehicles. It specifies the height and width of pl ...
* Tunnel
A tunnel is an underground passageway, dug through surrounding soil, earth or rock, and enclosed except for the entrance and exit, commonly at each end. A pipeline is not a tunnel, though some recent tunnels have used immersed tube cons ...
References
Further reading
* ''Jane's World Railways
''Jane's World Railways'' is a directory of railway activities worldwide. It is published annually by Jane's Information Group. Janes World Railways (JWR) provides details on railway systems and operators, manufacturers of equipment, technology ...
'' yearbook contains many though not all loading gauge diagrams.
External links
2002/732/EC: Commission Decision of 30 May 2002 concerning the technical specification for interoperability relating to the infrastructure subsystem of the trans-European high-speed rail system
Railway industrial Clearance Association
Railway line clearances and car dimensions including weight limitations of railroads in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Cuba.
AAR plates with UIC
!-- Do not remove again -->
{{Rail tracks
Permanent way
Rail loading gauge