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List of gauge conversions

This is a list of notable railway track gauge conversions, railway lines where the distance between a set of tracks is broadened or narrowed. Conversions to broader gauge are generally to accommodate heavier loads or for wider cars, while conversions to narrower gauge tend to be for compatibility with other lines on a rail network. This list also contains instances of lines already prepared for conversion and those which are planned to be converted.

New gauge
(mm)
Original
(mm)
Date Location Description
1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)  Angola Luanda Railway
1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) 600 mm (1 ft 11+58 in) 1950s  Angola Moçâmedes Railway[1][2]
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) 1970  Australia Transcontinental line: Broken Hill to Port Augusta and Kalgoorlie to Perth as part of the Sydney–Perth rail corridor.
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) 1980  Australia Completion of the penultimate link in the Adelaide–Darwin rail corridor, from Tarcoola to Alice Springs. The new line replaced the ancient narrow-gauge Central Australia Railway that was on a different, more floodprone alignment.[citation needed]
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) 1990-1995  Australia Melbourne–Adelaide rail corridor – 600 km (370 mi) of convertible sleepers installed in 1990 to facilitate quick conversion in 1995.[citation needed]
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) 2004  Australia Completion of the final link in the Adelaide–Darwin rail corridor, from Alice Springs to Darwin. For about half the distance, the new line replaced the ancient narrow-gauge North Australia Railway that was closed in 1976.[citation needed]
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) 2008–2010  Australia North East railway line in Victoria. A 200 km (120 mi) section between Seymour and Albury was converted, changing two parallel tracks of different gauges to double track. The Oaklands line that would otherwise have been left as an orphan was converted in 2009. The cost of converting this 126 km (78 mi) line has been estimated as just over A$13,000,000.[3]
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) 2012  Australia South Australia planned to convert its suburban (broad gauge) network to standard gauge in 2012, in conjunction with proposed electrification works. The Outer Harbour and Belair lines were rebuilt with gauge convertible sleepers and re-sleepering of the Gawler line commenced in 2010. The Seaford line was to commence once the Gawler line was completed.[4] However, both gauge conversion and electrification works were suspended due to funding constraints, with work unlikely to proceed for the foreseeable future.[needs update][citation needed]
1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) (temporary) 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) 1950s  Australia The Mount Gambier line in South Australia was fitted with some 3-gauge steel sleepers when it was "temporarily" converted,[ambiguous] pending later proposed conversion to 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) (which did not occur, the line being abandoned instead).[citation needed]
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)  Australia In Western Australia, the narrow-gauge iron ore railways serving Geraldton port and the new port at Oakajee will be designed for ease of conversion to standard gauge.[5][needs update]
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) 2016–present  Australia In Victoria, several wheat lines amounting to about 1,100 km (680 mi) of track, were (or are to be) converted to standard gauge, including:[6] Maryborough to Mildura, Yelta and Murrayville; Sea Lake and Manangatang. Lines will be converted to dual gauge between Gheringhap to Maryborough. This is part of the Murray Basin Rail Project.
900 mm (2 ft 11+716 in) 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in) 2008–2009  Austria Pöstlingbergbahn
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 760 mm (2 ft 5+1516 in) 1961  Austria Tschagguns–Partenen railway
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) 1854–1855  Baden Grand Duchy of Baden State Railway
1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in),
2 ft 6 in (762 mm),
2 ft (610 mm)
ongoing  Bangladesh
762 mm (2 ft 6 in) 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) 1898  Barbados Barbados Railway
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) 1880s  Canada Numerous Provincial Gauge railways in Canada
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) 1881  Canada Toronto, Grey and Bruce Railway
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) 1883  Canada Toronto and Nipissing Railway with third rail stage.
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 1,524 mm (5 ft) 1938  China Chinese–Russian-owned line[7]
1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) 1,524 mm (5 ft)  China South Manchuria Railway, during the Russo-Japanese War
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)  China South Manchuria Railway, following the Russo-Japanese War
600 mm (1 ft 11+58 in) 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in)  Czech Republic Muzeum Průmyslových Železnic
1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in) 1956  Democratic Republic of the Congo Kindu (Lualaba River port) – Kibombo – Kongolo – Kabalo (Lualaba River port and junction with Katanga line) – Nyunzu – Niemba – Kalemie (the port on Lake Tanganyika): This line was isolated meter gauge until 1955, when the gauge was changed for the connection with the Katanga line in 1956.
1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) 1932  Democratic Republic of the Congo Matadi–Kinshasa Railway converted to 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) on new alignment.
600 mm (1 ft 11+58 in) 610 mm (2 ft)  Democratic Republic of the Congo Mayumbe line
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in) 1924  Denmark Skagen Line in Denmark
500 mm (19+34 in) 600 mm (1 ft 11+58 in)  France Chemin de Fer Touristique du Tarn
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 1,520 mm (4 ft 11+2732 in) 1941  Nazi Germany Brest–Minsk[8]
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 750 mm (2 ft 5+12 in) 1964/65  Germany Zabergäu Railway
600 mm (1 ft 11+58 in) 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 2004  Germany Malente-Gremsmühlen–Lütjenburg railway
600 mm (1 ft 11+58 in) 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 2006  Germany Waldheim–Kriebethal railway [de]
1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in),
2 ft 6 in (762 mm),
2 ft (610 mm)
ongoing  India Project Unigauge
1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 1923  Japan Iyo Railway
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 1,372 mm (4 ft 6 in) 1959  Japan Keisei Electric Railway; converted for through-service into Toei Asakusa Line
1,520 mm (4 ft 11+2732 in) 750 mm (2 ft 5+12 in) early 1970s  Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic Kokchetav network, 305 km (190 mi), operational since 1954, partly regauged to Russian gauge.[9]
1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in) 600 mm (1 ft 11+58 in)  Laos Don Det–Don Khon narrow-gauge railway
750 mm (2 ft 5+12 in) 600 mm (1 ft 11+58 in)  Latvia LiepājaRucava line, 52 km military line
750 mm (2 ft 5+12 in) 600 mm (1 ft 11+58 in)  Lithuania
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 600 mm (1 ft 11+58 in) 1950s  Yugoslavia:
 Macedonia
Ohrid line
1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) 610 mm (2 ft) 1910  Mozambique /  Zimbabwe Beira–Salisbury
1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) 600 mm (1 ft 11+58 in) 1950  Namibia Moçâmedes Railway
1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) 600 mm (1 ft 11+58 in) 1915–1961  Namibia Otavi Mining and Railway Company
1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) 600 mm (1 ft 11+58 in) 1910–  Namibia Swakopmund–Windhoek line
914 mm (3 ft) 610 mm (2 ft) 1920  Nauru Rail transport in Nauru
1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) 2018    Nepal Jaynagar–Janakpur railway was regauged.
1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in)  New Zealand Canterbury Provincial Railways
1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) 1912–1914  Nigeria Bauchi Light Railway
 Nigeria Port HarcourtOnne, convertible sleepers installed since gauge conversion not imminent.
1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) 750 mm (2 ft 5+12 in) 1915  Norway Sulitjelma Line converted from 750 mm (2 ft 5+12 in) to dual gauge with 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) and when later closed was converted to a road.
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) 1922  Norway Skøyen–Filipstad Line
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) 1922  Norway Trondhjem–Støren Line
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) 1935  Norway Arendal Line
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) 1944  Norway Ålgård Line
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) 1941  Norway /  Nazi Germany Røros Line in occupied Norway converted by German forces.
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) 1949  Norway Grevskap Line in Norway
1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in),
2 ft 6 in (762 mm),
2 ft (610 mm)
2000  Pakistan All narrow-gauge tracks in Pakistan were re-gauged or were dismantled.
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 1,524 mm (5 ft) 2001  Panama The Panama Canal Railroad, by then in a dilapidated state, was reconstructed and relaid.
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 914 mm (3 ft) 2009  Peru Peru from Huancayo to Huancavelica; 147 km (91 mi).[10][11]
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) 2019–ongoing  Philippines The Philippine National Railways is reconstructing its dilapidated narrow-gauge network to standard gauge.[12][13]
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 1,524 mm (5 ft) after 1918  Poland In part of Poland under Russian control (Russian Partition), some railways were Russian broad gauge. These were converted to standard gauge after Poland gained independence, to unify the national system.
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 600 mm (1 ft 11+58 in) 1924  Poland World War I field railway connecting Nasielsk and Sierpc, 88 km long.
750 mm (2 ft 5+12 in) 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in) 1932  Poland World War I field railway from Dūkštas to Druya. After the occupation of the Vilnius Region by Poland, the PKP regauged the line.[14] After World War II the majority of the line ended up in Belorussian SSR and closed in the 1970s.[15]
1,668 mm (5 ft 5+2132 in) 1,664 mm (5 ft 5+12 in) 19th century  Portugal
1,668 mm (5 ft 5+2132 in) 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in) 2004  Portugal The Guimarães line in Portugal was electrified and converted from metre gauge to Iberian broad gauge in 2004.
1,520 mm (4 ft 11+2732 in) 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) 2003-2019  Russia The railways of Sakhalin Island were converted in sections, first laying the third (outer) rail, making rail lines usable by both Japanese- and Russian-gauge trains. Once the railways throughout the island have been converted to the Russian gauge (by 2012), the inner rail was removed.[16]
–1918  Russian Empire /  German Empire World War I as fronts and borders changed
–1945  Soviet Union /  Nazi Germany World War II as fronts and borders changed
1,524 mm (5 ft) 1,829 mm (6 ft) 1897  Russian Empire The first railway in Russia connecting Saint Petersburg to Tsarskoye Selo
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) (proposed)  Sierra Leone Port Pepel iron ore line, derelict[17]
1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) 610 mm (2 ft)  South Africa
1,668 mm (5 ft 5+2132 in) 1,672 mm (5 ft 5+1316 in) 19th century  Spain
1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in) 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) 1976  Spain The line from Cartagena to Los Blancos was converted at the same time it was extended to Los Nietos.[18]
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 1,668 mm (5 ft 5+2132 in) 2000s  Spain Spain is building its high-speed lines to standard gauge, even though the existing system is Iberian; new cutoff lines are being built with gauge-convertible sleepers.
1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) 1996  Sri Lanka The only narrow-gauge lines in Sri Lanka: Kelani Valley line was regauged while the 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) Uda Pussellawa railway was dismantled.
600 mm (1 ft 11+58 in) 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 1960s  Sweden The Östra Södermanlands Järnväg railway in Mariefred mostly runs on tracks which were converted from standard gauge when it was remade into a heritage railway in the 1960s.
891 mm (2 ft 11+332 in) 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 1934  Sweden The short and isolated standard gauge tram line Långängsbanan built in 1911 in the northern Stockholm suburb of Stocksund, was converted to the narrow 891 mm (2 ft 11+332 in) Swedish three foot of the adjacent Roslag Railway in 1934. Långängsbanan was closed in 1966.
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 891 mm (2 ft 11+332 in) 1973-1978  Sweden The railway between Kalmar and Berga was converted during the 1970s.
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 891 mm (2 ft 11+332 in) 1972  Sweden The railway between Sandbäckshult and Mönsterås was converted between 1970 and 1972. In Sandbäckshult, the line connects to the Kalmar-Berga line. Both were converted to facilitate standard gauge transport to the pulp mill in Mönsterås.
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 891 mm (2 ft 11+332 in) 1953-1962  Sweden Kinnekulle Line
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) 1854  Switzerland Swiss Northern Railway
1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in) 750 mm (2 ft 5+12 in) 2022  Switzerland Waldenburg Railway Being converted as part of a modernisation of the line.
1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in) 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 2010  Switzerland Swiss National Railway The former Nationalbahn line from Aarau to Suhr was converted to metre gauge to allow replacement of a street running section on the Menziken–Aarau–Schöftland railway line
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 1,050 mm (3 ft 5+1132 in) (proposed)  Syria Hejaz Railway
 Tanzania Tanzania in 2008 is proposed 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)/1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) steel sleepers and 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)/1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) concrete sleepers to suit gauge conversion.
1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in) 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 1920 onward  Thailand From 1920, the standard gauge part of the Siam railway amounting to 1,000 km (620 mi) was converted first to third rail, and then to 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in) (metre gauge) making the whole system metre gauge.[19]
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in) (proposed)  Tunisia Tunis - Sfax Line
750 mm (2 ft 5+12 in) 760 mm (2 ft 5+1516 in) 1948–1949  Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic Beregovo region network, around 200 km (120 mi); initially built during the Hungarian Empire and regauged when Ukraine became part of the Soviet Union.[20]
750 mm (2 ft 5+12 in) 760 mm (2 ft 5+1516 in)  Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic Uzhgorod region, 35 km (22 mi).[20]
750 mm (2 ft 5+12 in) 600 mm (1 ft 11+58 in)  Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic Vapniarka railways, 140 km (87 mi).
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 1,524 mm (5 ft) 1844  United Kingdom:
 England
The Eastern Counties Railway, constructed in 1839 and the connecting Northern and Eastern Railway, constructed in 1840.
610 mm (2 ft) 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in)  United Kingdom:
 Wales
Eigiau Reservoir Tramway
381 mm (15 in) 610 mm (2 ft) 1916  United Kingdom:
 Wales
Fairbourne Railway
311 mm (12+14 in) 381 mm (15 in) 1986  United Kingdom:
 Wales
Fairbourne Railway
610 mm (2 ft) 914 mm (3 ft) 1986  United Kingdom:
 Wales
Gorseddau Junction and Portmadoc Railway
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 2,140 mm (7 ft 14 in) 1892  United Kingdom:
 England /  Wales
Great Western Railway
600 mm (1 ft 11+58 in) 597 mm (1 ft 11+12 in)  United Kingdom:
 England
Lynton and Barnstaple Railway
1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) 597 mm (1 ft 11+12 in) 2002  United Kingdom:
 England
Southport Pier Tramway
597 mm (1 ft 11+12 in) 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) 1950  United Kingdom:
 England
Southport Pier Tramway
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 2,140 mm (7 ft 14 in) 1872  United Kingdom:
 Wales
Teifi Valley Railway
603 mm (1 ft 11+34 in) 597 mm (1 ft 11+12 in) 1901–1902  United Kingdom:
 Wales
Vale of Rheidol Railway
825 mm (2 ft 8+12 in) 610 mm (2 ft) 1884  United Kingdom:
 England
Volk's Electric Railway
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 1,473 mm (4 ft 10 in) 1866  United States
 New Jersey
Morris and Essex converted in 12 days[21]
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) 1871  United States
 Maine
Maine Central Railroad Company
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 914 mm (3 ft) 1879  United States
 California
Monterey Branch Line
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 914 mm (3 ft) 1881  United States
 Colorado
Denver to Pueblo on Denver & Rio Grande Railroad.[22] This began a progressive and gradual conversion to standard gauge across Colorado, wherever the traffic justified the conversion
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 1,524 mm (5 ft) 1886  United States AN ACT to establish the gauge of the Pacific railroad and its branches.[23] set the standard for the First transcontinental railroad and encouraged previously laid lines to regauge. Southern railroads were not converted until 1886[24] when they were regauged to 1448 mm (4 ft 9 in). This was functionally compatible with standard gauge, final conversions taking place as track was maintained.
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) 1898  United States
 California
San Diego Electric Railway
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 914 mm (3 ft) 1902  United States
 Iowa
Burlington and Northwestern Railway
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) 1906  United States
 California
Venice Short Line when sold from the Los Angeles Pacific Railroad to the Pacific Electric
1,588 mm (5 ft 2+12 in) 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 1997  United States
 Louisiana
The Riverfront Streetcar Line of the New Orleans streetcar system was converted to conform with the rest of the historic streetcar system.
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) 1,520 mm (4 ft 11+2732 in) Central Asia While China and Europe are connected by rail, and while both are mainly 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in), the intervening Central Asia Railways are 1,520 mm (4 ft 11+2732 in) gauge. There are discussions about facilitating an eventual linkage of the Chinese and European standard gauge system.

See also

References

  1. ^ Durrant, A.E., A.A. Jorgensen, C.P. Lewis. Steam in Africa, London, 1981, Hamlyn.
  2. ^ "Railways in Angola". 11 November 2010. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  3. ^ . Australia: Ken Jasper MLA, Member for Murray Valley. 9 July 2008. Archived from the original on 18 July 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  4. ^ "Rail Revitalisation". South Australian Department of Transport, Energy and Infrastructure. Retrieved 25 August 2008.
  5. ^ . Mml.net.au. Archived from the original on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
  6. ^ Railway Digest, October 2015, pg 36
  7. ^ "ABOUT BOOKS". The Morning Bulletin. Rockhampton, Qld. 6 October 1939. p. 9. Retrieved 19 March 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ Stolfi, Russel H. S. (1991). "Chapter Eleven. German Logistics: Could the Germans Support an Advance into the Moscow-Gorki Space in the Summer of 1941?". Hitler's Panzers East: World War II Reinterpreted. Norman and London: University of Oklahoma Press. Retrieved 1 December 2016 – via Military Literature.
  9. ^ . Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  10. ^ Trains, March 2009, p68
  11. ^ Fender, Keith (8 December 2015). "High hopes for Peru's Andean railway". International Railway Journal. US. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  12. ^ Barrow, Keith (9 August 2016). "Philippines adopts standard gauge for new lines". International Rail Journal. Retrieved 15 February 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ^ Ordinario, Cai (18 September 2020). "Neda says 104 flagship projects ready for implementation next year". BusinessMirror. Retrieved 15 February 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. ^ "Linia Dukszty - Druja" (in Polish).
  15. ^ . Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
  16. ^ Сахалинская узкоколейная железная дорога (The narrow-gauge railways of Sakhalin) Archived 15 November 2013 at archive.today (in Russian)
  17. ^ . Archived from the original on 24 October 2008.
  18. ^ Ferropedia – Ferrocarril Cartagena – Los Nietos, http://ferropedia.es/wiki/Ferrocarril_Cartagena_-_Los_Nietos
  19. ^ "Break of Gauge – Letters to the Editor". The Sydney Morning Herald. Australia. 13 June 1938. Retrieved 1 June 2016 – via Trove – National Library of Australia.
  20. ^ a b . Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
  21. ^ https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1866/07/03/90433709.pdf The New York Times, 3 July 1866
  22. ^ Wilkins, Tivis (Tiv) E. (1974). "Part II – Expansion And Consolidation". Colorado Railroads. Pruett Publishing Company.
  23. ^ "An act to establish the gauge of the Pacific railroad and its branches". US: Congress. 1 March 1863. Retrieved 1 June 2016 – via Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History Museum.
  24. ^ "The Days They Changed the Gauge".

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This is a list of notable railway track gauge conversions railway lines where the distance between a set of tracks is broadened or narrowed Conversions to broader gauge are generally to accommodate heavier loads or for wider cars while conversions to narrower gauge tend to be for compatibility with other lines on a rail network This list also contains instances of lines already prepared for conversion and those which are planned to be converted New gauge mm Original mm Date Location Description1 067 mm 3 ft 6 in 1 000 mm 3 ft 3 3 8 in Angola Luanda Railway1 067 mm 3 ft 6 in 600 mm 1 ft 11 5 8 in 1950s Angola Mocamedes Railway 1 2 1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 1 067 mm 3 ft 6 in 1970 Australia Transcontinental line Broken Hill to Port Augusta and Kalgoorlie to Perth as part of the Sydney Perth rail corridor 1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 1 067 mm 3 ft 6 in 1980 Australia Completion of the penultimate link in the Adelaide Darwin rail corridor from Tarcoola to Alice Springs The new line replaced the ancient narrow gauge Central Australia Railway that was on a different more floodprone alignment citation needed 1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 1 600 mm 5 ft 3 in 1990 1995 Australia Melbourne Adelaide rail corridor 600 km 370 mi of convertible sleepers installed in 1990 to facilitate quick conversion in 1995 citation needed 1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 1 067 mm 3 ft 6 in 2004 Australia Completion of the final link in the Adelaide Darwin rail corridor from Alice Springs to Darwin For about half the distance the new line replaced the ancient narrow gauge North Australia Railway that was closed in 1976 citation needed 1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 1 600 mm 5 ft 3 in 2008 2010 Australia North East railway line in Victoria A 200 km 120 mi section between Seymour and Albury was converted changing two parallel tracks of different gauges to double track The Oaklands line that would otherwise have been left as an orphan was converted in 2009 The cost of converting this 126 km 78 mi line has been estimated as just over A 13 000 000 3 1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 1 600 mm 5 ft 3 in 2012 Australia South Australia planned to convert its suburban broad gauge network to standard gauge in 2012 in conjunction with proposed electrification works The Outer Harbour and Belair lines were rebuilt with gauge convertible sleepers and re sleepering of the Gawler line commenced in 2010 The Seaford line was to commence once the Gawler line was completed 4 However both gauge conversion and electrification works were suspended due to funding constraints with work unlikely to proceed for the foreseeable future needs update citation needed 1 600 mm 5 ft 3 in temporary 1 067 mm 3 ft 6 in 1950s Australia The Mount Gambier line in South Australia was fitted with some 3 gauge steel sleepers when it was temporarily converted ambiguous pending later proposed conversion to 1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in which did not occur the line being abandoned instead citation needed 1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 1 067 mm 3 ft 6 in Australia In Western Australia the narrow gauge iron ore railways serving Geraldton port and the new port at Oakajee will be designed for ease of conversion to standard gauge 5 needs update 1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 1 600 mm 5 ft 3 in 2016 present Australia In Victoria several wheat lines amounting to about 1 100 km 680 mi of track were or are to be converted to standard gauge including 6 Maryborough to Mildura Yelta and Murrayville Sea Lake and Manangatang Lines will be converted to dual gauge between Gheringhap to Maryborough This is part of the Murray Basin Rail Project 900 mm 2 ft 11 7 16 in 1 000 mm 3 ft 3 3 8 in 2008 2009 Austria Postlingbergbahn1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 760 mm 2 ft 5 15 16 in 1961 Austria Tschagguns Partenen railway1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 1 600 mm 5 ft 3 in 1854 1855 Baden Grand Duchy of Baden State Railway1 676 mm 5 ft 6 in 1 000 mm 3 ft 3 3 8 in 2 ft 6 in 762 mm 2 ft 610 mm ongoing Bangladesh762 mm 2 ft 6 in 1 067 mm 3 ft 6 in 1898 Barbados Barbados Railway1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 1 676 mm 5 ft 6 in 1880s Canada Numerous Provincial Gauge railways in Canada1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 1 067 mm 3 ft 6 in 1881 Canada Toronto Grey and Bruce Railway1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 1 067 mm 3 ft 6 in 1883 Canada Toronto and Nipissing Railway with third rail stage 1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 1 524 mm 5 ft 1938 China Chinese Russian owned line 7 1 067 mm 3 ft 6 in 1 524 mm 5 ft China South Manchuria Railway during the Russo Japanese War1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 1 067 mm 3 ft 6 in China South Manchuria Railway following the Russo Japanese War600 mm 1 ft 11 5 8 in 1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in Czech Republic Muzeum Prumyslovych Zeleznic1 067 mm 3 ft 6 in 1 000 mm 3 ft 3 3 8 in 1956 Democratic Republic of the Congo Kindu Lualaba River port Kibombo Kongolo Kabalo Lualaba River port and junction with Katanga line Nyunzu Niemba Kalemie the port on Lake Tanganyika This line was isolated meter gauge until 1955 when the gauge was changed for the connection with the Katanga line in 1956 1 067 mm 3 ft 6 in 762 mm 2 ft 6 in 1932 Democratic Republic of the Congo Matadi Kinshasa Railway converted to 1 067 mm 3 ft 6 in on new alignment 600 mm 1 ft 11 5 8 in 610 mm 2 ft Democratic Republic of the Congo Mayumbe line1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 1 000 mm 3 ft 3 3 8 in 1924 Denmark Skagen Line in Denmark500 mm 19 3 4 in 600 mm 1 ft 11 5 8 in France Chemin de Fer Touristique du Tarn1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 1 520 mm 4 ft 11 27 32 in 1941 Nazi Germany Brest Minsk 8 1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 750 mm 2 ft 5 1 2 in 1964 65 Germany Zabergau Railway600 mm 1 ft 11 5 8 in 1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 2004 Germany Malente Gremsmuhlen Lutjenburg railway600 mm 1 ft 11 5 8 in 1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 2006 Germany Waldheim Kriebethal railway de 1 676 mm 5 ft 6 in 1 000 mm 3 ft 3 3 8 in 2 ft 6 in 762 mm 2 ft 610 mm ongoing India Project Unigauge1 067 mm 3 ft 6 in 1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 1923 Japan Iyo Railway1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 1 372 mm 4 ft 6 in 1959 Japan Keisei Electric Railway converted for through service into Toei Asakusa Line1 520 mm 4 ft 11 27 32 in 750 mm 2 ft 5 1 2 in early 1970s Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic Kokchetav network 305 km 190 mi operational since 1954 partly regauged to Russian gauge 9 1 000 mm 3 ft 3 3 8 in 600 mm 1 ft 11 5 8 in Laos Don Det Don Khon narrow gauge railway750 mm 2 ft 5 1 2 in 600 mm 1 ft 11 5 8 in Latvia Liepaja Rucava line 52 km military line750 mm 2 ft 5 1 2 in 600 mm 1 ft 11 5 8 in Lithuania Further information Narrow gauge railways in Lithuania1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 600 mm 1 ft 11 5 8 in 1950s Yugoslavia Macedonia Ohrid line1 067 mm 3 ft 6 in 610 mm 2 ft 1910 Mozambique Zimbabwe Beira Salisbury1 067 mm 3 ft 6 in 600 mm 1 ft 11 5 8 in 1950 Namibia Mocamedes Railway1 067 mm 3 ft 6 in 600 mm 1 ft 11 5 8 in 1915 1961 Namibia Otavi Mining and Railway Company1 067 mm 3 ft 6 in 600 mm 1 ft 11 5 8 in 1910 Namibia Swakopmund Windhoek line914 mm 3 ft 610 mm 2 ft 1920 Nauru Rail transport in Nauru1 676 mm 5 ft 6 in 762 mm 2 ft 6 in 2018 Nepal Jaynagar Janakpur railway was regauged 1 067 mm 3 ft 6 in 1 600 mm 5 ft 3 in New Zealand Canterbury Provincial Railways1 067 mm 3 ft 6 in 762 mm 2 ft 6 in 1912 1914 Nigeria Bauchi Light Railway Nigeria Port Harcourt Onne convertible sleepers installed since gauge conversion not imminent 1 067 mm 3 ft 6 in 750 mm 2 ft 5 1 2 in 1915 Norway Sulitjelma Line converted from 750 mm 2 ft 5 1 2 in to dual gauge with 1 067 mm 3 ft 6 in and when later closed was converted to a road 1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 1 067 mm 3 ft 6 in 1922 Norway Skoyen Filipstad Line1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 1 067 mm 3 ft 6 in 1922 Norway Trondhjem Storen Line1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 1 067 mm 3 ft 6 in 1935 Norway Arendal Line1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 1 067 mm 3 ft 6 in 1944 Norway Algard Line1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 1 067 mm 3 ft 6 in 1941 Norway Nazi Germany Roros Line in occupied Norway converted by German forces 1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 1 067 mm 3 ft 6 in 1949 Norway Grevskap Line in Norway1 676 mm 5 ft 6 in 1 000 mm 3 ft 3 3 8 in 2 ft 6 in 762 mm 2 ft 610 mm 2000 Pakistan All narrow gauge tracks in Pakistan were re gauged or were dismantled 1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 1 524 mm 5 ft 2001 Panama The Panama Canal Railroad by then in a dilapidated state was reconstructed and relaid 1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 914 mm 3 ft 2009 Peru Peru from Huancayo to Huancavelica 147 km 91 mi 10 11 1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 1 067 mm 3 ft 6 in 2019 ongoing Philippines The Philippine National Railways is reconstructing its dilapidated narrow gauge network to standard gauge 12 13 1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 1 524 mm 5 ft after 1918 Poland In part of Poland under Russian control Russian Partition some railways were Russian broad gauge These were converted to standard gauge after Poland gained independence to unify the national system 1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 600 mm 1 ft 11 5 8 in 1924 Poland World War I field railway connecting Nasielsk and Sierpc 88 km long 750 mm 2 ft 5 1 2 in 1 000 mm 3 ft 3 3 8 in 1932 Poland World War I field railway from Dukstas to Druya After the occupation of the Vilnius Region by Poland the PKP regauged the line 14 After World War II the majority of the line ended up in Belorussian SSR and closed in the 1970s 15 1 668 mm 5 ft 5 21 32 in 1 664 mm 5 ft 5 1 2 in 19th century Portugal1 668 mm 5 ft 5 21 32 in 1 000 mm 3 ft 3 3 8 in 2004 Portugal The Guimaraes line in Portugal was electrified and converted from metre gauge to Iberian broad gauge in 2004 1 520 mm 4 ft 11 27 32 in 1 067 mm 3 ft 6 in 2003 2019 Russia The railways of Sakhalin Island were converted in sections first laying the third outer rail making rail lines usable by both Japanese and Russian gauge trains Once the railways throughout the island have been converted to the Russian gauge by 2012 the inner rail was removed 16 1918 Russian Empire German Empire World War I as fronts and borders changed 1945 Soviet Union Nazi Germany World War II as fronts and borders changed1 524 mm 5 ft 1 829 mm 6 ft 1897 Russian Empire The first railway in Russia connecting Saint Petersburg to Tsarskoye Selo1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 1 067 mm 3 ft 6 in proposed Sierra Leone Port Pepel iron ore line derelict 17 1 067 mm 3 ft 6 in 610 mm 2 ft South Africa Further information Two foot gauge railways in South Africa1 668 mm 5 ft 5 21 32 in 1 672 mm 5 ft 5 13 16 in 19th century Spain1 000 mm 3 ft 3 3 8 in 1 067 mm 3 ft 6 in 1976 Spain The line from Cartagena to Los Blancos was converted at the same time it was extended to Los Nietos 18 1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 1 668 mm 5 ft 5 21 32 in 2000s Spain Spain is building its high speed lines to standard gauge even though the existing system is Iberian new cutoff lines are being built with gauge convertible sleepers 1 676 mm 5 ft 6 in 762 mm 2 ft 6 in 1996 Sri Lanka The only narrow gauge lines in Sri Lanka Kelani Valley line was regauged while the 762 mm 2 ft 6 in Uda Pussellawa railway was dismantled 600 mm 1 ft 11 5 8 in 1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 1960s Sweden The Ostra Sodermanlands Jarnvag railway in Mariefred mostly runs on tracks which were converted from standard gauge when it was remade into a heritage railway in the 1960s 891 mm 2 ft 11 3 32 in 1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 1934 Sweden The short and isolated standard gauge tram line Langangsbanan built in 1911 in the northern Stockholm suburb of Stocksund was converted to the narrow 891 mm 2 ft 11 3 32 in Swedish three foot of the adjacent Roslag Railway in 1934 Langangsbanan was closed in 1966 1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 891 mm 2 ft 11 3 32 in 1973 1978 Sweden The railway between Kalmar and Berga was converted during the 1970s 1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 891 mm 2 ft 11 3 32 in 1972 Sweden The railway between Sandbackshult and Monsteras was converted between 1970 and 1972 In Sandbackshult the line connects to the Kalmar Berga line Both were converted to facilitate standard gauge transport to the pulp mill in Monsteras 1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 891 mm 2 ft 11 3 32 in 1953 1962 Sweden Kinnekulle Line1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 1 600 mm 5 ft 3 in 1854 Switzerland Swiss Northern Railway1 000 mm 3 ft 3 3 8 in 750 mm 2 ft 5 1 2 in 2022 Switzerland Waldenburg Railway Being converted as part of a modernisation of the line 1 000 mm 3 ft 3 3 8 in 1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 2010 Switzerland Swiss National Railway The former Nationalbahn line from Aarau to Suhr was converted to metre gauge to allow replacement of a street running section on the Menziken Aarau Schoftland railway line1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 1 050 mm 3 ft 5 11 32 in proposed Syria Hejaz Railway Tanzania Tanzania in 2008 is proposed 1 000 mm 3 ft 3 3 8 in 1 067 mm 3 ft 6 in steel sleepers and 1 000 mm 3 ft 3 3 8 in 1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in concrete sleepers to suit gauge conversion 1 000 mm 3 ft 3 3 8 in 1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 1920 onward Thailand From 1920 the standard gauge part of the Siam railway amounting to 1 000 km 620 mi was converted first to third rail and then to 1 000 mm 3 ft 3 3 8 in metre gauge making the whole system metre gauge 19 1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 1 000 mm 3 ft 3 3 8 in proposed Tunisia Tunis Sfax Line750 mm 2 ft 5 1 2 in 760 mm 2 ft 5 15 16 in 1948 1949 Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic Beregovo region network around 200 km 120 mi initially built during the Hungarian Empire and regauged when Ukraine became part of the Soviet Union 20 750 mm 2 ft 5 1 2 in 760 mm 2 ft 5 15 16 in Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic Uzhgorod region 35 km 22 mi 20 750 mm 2 ft 5 1 2 in 600 mm 1 ft 11 5 8 in Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic Vapniarka railways 140 km 87 mi 1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 1 524 mm 5 ft 1844 United Kingdom England The Eastern Counties Railway constructed in 1839 and the connecting Northern and Eastern Railway constructed in 1840 610 mm 2 ft 1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in United Kingdom Wales Eigiau Reservoir Tramway381 mm 15 in 610 mm 2 ft 1916 United Kingdom Wales Fairbourne Railway311 mm 12 1 4 in 381 mm 15 in 1986 United Kingdom Wales Fairbourne Railway610 mm 2 ft 914 mm 3 ft 1986 United Kingdom Wales Gorseddau Junction and Portmadoc Railway1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 2 140 mm 7 ft 1 4 in 1892 United Kingdom England Wales Great Western Railway600 mm 1 ft 11 5 8 in 597 mm 1 ft 11 1 2 in United Kingdom England Lynton and Barnstaple Railway1 067 mm 3 ft 6 in 597 mm 1 ft 11 1 2 in 2002 United Kingdom England Southport Pier Tramway597 mm 1 ft 11 1 2 in 1 067 mm 3 ft 6 in 1950 United Kingdom England Southport Pier Tramway1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 2 140 mm 7 ft 1 4 in 1872 United Kingdom Wales Teifi Valley Railway603 mm 1 ft 11 3 4 in 597 mm 1 ft 11 1 2 in 1901 1902 United Kingdom Wales Vale of Rheidol Railway825 mm 2 ft 8 1 2 in 610 mm 2 ft 1884 United Kingdom England Volk s Electric Railway1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 1 473 mm 4 ft 10 in 1866 United States New Jersey Morris and Essex converted in 12 days 21 1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 1 676 mm 5 ft 6 in 1871 United States Maine Maine Central Railroad Company1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 914 mm 3 ft 1879 United States California Monterey Branch Line1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 914 mm 3 ft 1881 United States Colorado Denver to Pueblo on Denver amp Rio Grande Railroad 22 This began a progressive and gradual conversion to standard gauge across Colorado wherever the traffic justified the conversion1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 1 524 mm 5 ft 1886 United States AN ACT to establish the gauge of the Pacific railroad and its branches 23 set the standard for the First transcontinental railroad and encouraged previously laid lines to regauge Southern railroads were not converted until 1886 24 when they were regauged to 1448 mm 4 ft 9 in This was functionally compatible with standard gauge final conversions taking place as track was maintained Main article Track gauge in the United States Towards standardization1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 1 067 mm 3 ft 6 in 1898 United States California San Diego Electric Railway1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 914 mm 3 ft 1902 United States Iowa Burlington and Northwestern Railway1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 1 067 mm 3 ft 6 in 1906 United States California Venice Short Line when sold from the Los Angeles Pacific Railroad to the Pacific Electric1 588 mm 5 ft 2 1 2 in 1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 1997 United States Louisiana The Riverfront Streetcar Line of the New Orleans streetcar system was converted to conform with the rest of the historic streetcar system 1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in 1 520 mm 4 ft 11 27 32 in Central Asia While China and Europe are connected by rail and while both are mainly 1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in the intervening Central Asia Railways are 1 520 mm 4 ft 11 27 32 in gauge There are discussions about facilitating an eventual linkage of the Chinese and European standard gauge system Further information Eurasian Land BridgeSee also Edit Trains portalBreak of gaugeReferences Edit Durrant A E A A Jorgensen C P Lewis Steam in Africa London 1981 Hamlyn Railways in Angola 11 November 2010 Retrieved 27 November 2010 Jasper supports Oaklands rail line upgrade Australia Ken Jasper MLA Member for Murray Valley 9 July 2008 Archived from the original on 18 July 2008 Retrieved 1 June 2016 Rail Revitalisation South Australian Department of Transport Energy and Infrastructure Retrieved 25 August 2008 Murchison Metals Ltd Projects Oakajee Port and Rail Mml net au Archived from the original on 21 March 2012 Retrieved 6 May 2012 Railway Digest October 2015 pg 36 ABOUT BOOKS The Morning Bulletin Rockhampton Qld 6 October 1939 p 9 Retrieved 19 March 2014 via National Library of Australia Stolfi Russel H S 1991 Chapter Eleven German Logistics Could the Germans Support an Advance into the Moscow Gorki Space in the Summer of 1941 Hitler s Panzers East World War II Reinterpreted Norman and London University of Oklahoma Press Retrieved 1 December 2016 via Military Literature MPS lines in Kazakhstan part 1 Archived from the original on 4 March 2016 Trains March 2009 p68 Fender Keith 8 December 2015 High hopes for Peru s Andean railway International Railway Journal US Retrieved 1 December 2016 Barrow Keith 9 August 2016 Philippines adopts standard gauge for new lines International Rail Journal Retrieved 15 February 2021 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Ordinario Cai 18 September 2020 Neda says 104 flagship projects ready for implementation next year BusinessMirror Retrieved 15 February 2021 a href Template Cite news html title Template Cite news cite news a CS1 maint url status link Linia Dukszty Druja in Polish The TU2 pages Archived from the original on 3 March 2016 Sahalinskaya uzkokolejnaya zheleznaya doroga The narrow gauge railways of Sakhalin Archived 15 November 2013 at archive today in Russian allAfrica com Sierra Leone African Minerals to Boost Bunbuna Hydro Page 1 of 1 Archived from the original on 24 October 2008 Ferropedia Ferrocarril Cartagena Los Nietos http ferropedia es wiki Ferrocarril Cartagena Los Nietos Break of Gauge Letters to the Editor The Sydney Morning Herald Australia 13 June 1938 Retrieved 1 June 2016 via Trove National Library of Australia a b MPS lines in Carpathian Ukraine Archived from the original on 3 March 2016 https timesmachine nytimes com timesmachine 1866 07 03 90433709 pdf The New York Times 3 July 1866 Wilkins Tivis Tiv E 1974 Part II Expansion And Consolidation Colorado Railroads Pruett Publishing Company An act to establish the gauge of the Pacific railroad and its branches US Congress 1 March 1863 Retrieved 1 June 2016 via Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History Museum The Days They Changed the Gauge Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title List of gauge conversions amp oldid 1119818155, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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