RTRI REPORT October 2000

World Trend of Gauge Change Train

Isao OKAMOTO


  Different track gauges were adopted in various railways for a variety of reasons economical, strategical, technical, etc. These different track gauges have had negative effects on rail transport and commercial activities. To overcome these difficulties, we have taken various measures, for example, change of gauge on the line, changing trains for passenger traffic, transshipment of freights, exchange of running gears, adoption of transporter wagons, wagon carrier bogies or gauge change trains. Among these measures, the option of gauge change train may be a suitable solution while others are time-consuming and expensive. This paper describes the history and recent trend of gauge change trains in the world.


* Full papers of RTRI Report are written in Japanese.

Copyright (c) 2000 Railway Technical Research Institute