Metre-gauge railway
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Metre-gauge railways are narrow-gauge railways with track gauge of 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) or 1 metre.[1]
Overview
The metre gauge is used in around 95,000 kilometres (59,000 mi) of tracks around the world. Historically it was utilized by European colonial powers such as the French, British and German empires. In Europe, large metre-gauge networks remain in use in Switzerland, northern Spain and in many European towns with urban trams, although most metre-gauge local railways in France, Germany and Belgium closed down in the mid-20th century. With the revival of urban rail transport, metre-gauge light metros were established in some cities, while in other cities metre gauge was replaced by standard gauge.
Installations
Country/territory | Railway |
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Argentina | 11,080 km (6,880 mi) |
Austria |
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Bangladesh | 1,830 km (1,140 mi), out of which 365 km (227 mi) are dual gauge with 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) gauge |
Belgium |
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Benin | National rail network, 578 km (359 mi). |
Bolivia | National rail network, 3,600 km (2,200 mi). |
Brazil |
23,489 km (14,595 mi)
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Bulgaria |
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Burkina Faso |
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Burma | 3,200 kilometres (2,000 mi) of Burmese railways, except for about 160 kilometres (99 mi) of hill railways. |
Cambodia | 612 km (380 mi) |
Cameroon | 1,104 km (686 mi) |
Chile | 2,923 km (1,816 mi)
Empresa de los Ferrocarriles del Estado (Ferronor), Ferrocarril de Antofagasta a Bolivia, Arica–La Paz railway. |
China |
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Croatia |
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Czech Republic | Like other Sudeten cities, the tram of Liberec used metre gauge in the past. The inner city lines however, have been rebuilt to standard gauge and the only line that still uses the metre gauge is the 13 km (8.1 mi) long Jablonec nad Nisou line connecting the city with Jablonec nad Nisou. |
Democratic Republic of the Congo | Several metre gauge railways |
Denmark |
A few local railways. Only one remains, but regauged to standard gauge.
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Egypt |
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Finland |
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France | Historically used in many local and regional railways, only a few of which remain today.
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Germany |
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Greece | The rail network of Peloponnese used to be the largest metre gauge in Europe and is now partially abandoned. Only Patra's Commuter rail, within the Patras metropolitan area, and the Olympia-Katakolo tourist rail line use the network. |
India |
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Iraq | Mesopotamian Railways |
Israel | Sections of 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) railways, later converted to 1,050 mm (3 ft 5+11⁄32 in) or 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) gauge |
Italy |
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Ivory Coast |
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Kenya | Uganda Railway run by Kenya Railways Corporation. Metre gauge link from Nairobi Standard Gauge station to city centre (operating) |
Laos | A 3.5 km extension of the metre-gauge State Railway of Thailand network across the border into Laos |
Latvia |
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Madagascar | 875 km (544 mi). There are two unconnected systems operated by Madarail |
Malaysia | |
Mali |
641 km (398 mi) Dakar–Niger Railway |
Malta | Malta Railway |
Morocco | Several industrial railways in former Spanish Morocco |
New Zealand |
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Norway |
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Pakistan |
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Poland | |
Portugal | Several mainly mountainous branch lines, mostly abandoned in the 1990s, never fully interconnected — connected to the REFER network by means of shared stations and some dual-gauge stretches. Metro de Mirandela and Vouga line remain in use. Other metric networks include Funchal rack railway (defunct in 1943), Coimbra trams (defunct in 1980), and Sintra trams. |
Romania |
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Russia |
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Senegal | Dakar–Niger Railway – 1,287 km (800 mi) |
Serbia |
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Singapore | Singapore span of the Keretapi Tanah Melayu (Malayan Railway) for shuttle service. |
Slovakia |
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Spain |
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Sweden | Skansens bergbana (operating) |
Switzerland | Many narrow-gauge railways: suburban railways, mountain railways, rack railways, some long-distance railways and trams,
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Tanzania | Tanzania Railways Corporation – about 2,600 km (1,600 mi) (break of gauge with 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) TAZARA Railway) |
Thailand | State Railway of Thailand, 4,346 km (2,700 mi). |
Togo | 568 km (353 mi). |
Tunisia | 1,674 km (1,040 mi) used along with standard gauge (471 km (293 mi)) |
Turkey |
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Uganda | Uganda Railway run by Uganda Railways Corporation |
Ukraine |
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United Kingdom |
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United States |
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Vietnam | Vietnam Railways and KunHe Railway |
See also
References
- ^ Raja, K. "Complete information on Railway Gauges". Retrieved April 30, 2017.
- ^ Brandon, Andrew. "The Sierra Lumber Company". Pacific Narrow Gauge.