Iberian-gauge railways
Iberian gauge is a railway track gauge of 1,668 mm (5 ft 5 21⁄32 in), used by the railways of Spain and Portugal. This is the second-widest gauge in regular use anywhere in the world. Indian gauge railways, 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm), are 8 mm (5⁄16 in) wider.
In 1955,[1] the Iberian gauge was a compromise between the slightly different, gauges in Spain and Portugal. The main railway networks of Spain were built to a 1,672 mm (5 ft 5 13⁄16 in) gauge of six Castilian feet. In Portugal they were first built to a 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) and later to a 1,664 mm (5 ft 5 1⁄2 in) gauge of five Portuguese feet – close enough to allow interoperability with Spanish railways.[2]
Standard gauge
Since the 1990s new high-speed passenger lines in Spain have been built to the international standard gauge of 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in), to allow these lines to link to the European high-speed network. Although the 22 km from Tardienta to Huesca (part of a branch from the Madrid to Barcelona high-speed line) has been reconstructed as mixed Iberic and standard gauge, in general the interface between the two gauges in Spain is dealt with by means of gauge-changing installations, which can adjust the gauge of appropriately designed wheelsets on the move.[3][4]
There are plans to convert more of the Iberian-gauge network in Spain and Portugal to standard gauge. Concrete sleepers pre-drilled with additional bolt holes allow for moving one rail to adjust the track to standard gauge (or to dual gauge) or the narrowing of the gauge by moving both rails closer together maintaining the perfect alignment of the loading gauge.[5][6]
Similar gauges and compatibility
The Indian gauge (1,676 mm or 5 ft 6 in) is closely similar, with only 8 mm (5⁄16 in) difference. Chile and Argentina have bought second hand Spanish/Portuguese Iberian-gauge rolling stock. 1,668 mm trains can run on 1,676 mm gauge without adaptation, but for better stability in high-speed running a replacement wheelset may be required. Due to the narrower gauge, a strong wear of the wheels may occur if the wheelset is not replaced.
Iberian-gauge railway networks
| Country/territory | Railway |
|---|---|
| Portugal | Infraestruturas de Portugal network. Adjusted from the original 1,664 mm (5 ft 5 1⁄2 in) in the 19th century. Other gauges used in Portugal: 7 ft 1⁄4 in (2,140 mm)[7] or 7 ft (2,134 mm)[8] (Azores), 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in), 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in), 900 mm (2 ft 11 7⁄16 in), and 600 mm (1 ft 11 5⁄8 in) |
| Spain | Adjusted from the original 1,672 mm (5 ft 5 13⁄16 in) in the 19th century. Adif-managed national railway network (except new high-speed railway lines). Although Lleida–La Pobla de Segur Line is both managed and operated by Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC), it was formerly part of the national railway network and was constructed to the 1,668 mm (5 ft 5 21⁄32 in) gauge. Barcelona Metro line 1 still uses the former 1,672 mm (5 ft 5 13⁄16 in) gauge. |
