The point where a rail line of one track gauge meets a line of a different gauge, so trains cannot run through without conversion. Passengers must change trains and freight must be transloaded, imposing delay and cost wherever mismatched networks meet; standard intermodal containers have eased the burden since the 1960s.
Facts
Core ConcernIncompatible track gauges forcing costly transfers at network junctions 1 FAQs
What happens where two railway networks of different gauges meet?
Trains cannot run through a break of gauge without conversion, so passengers must change trains and freight must be transloaded, though standard containers have eased the burden since the 1960s.
A break of gauge is the point where a rail line of one track gauge meets a line of a different gauge, so trains cannot run through without conversion. Passengers must change trains and freight must be transloaded, which can cause delays, added costs, and inconvenience to those travelling on affected routes. Standard intermodal containers have eased the burden since the 1960s, since a container can be lifted from one wagon to another regardless of the gauge either side of the break was built to.
Connections
Exemplified By
Russian broad gauge (1,520 mm) differs from the standard gauge used by neighboring rail networks, producing a break of gauge; a dual gauge connection into the Trans-Siberian network exists at the North Korea-Russia border crossing.
Source Break of Gauge (Wikipedia)
Sources
1. Break of Gauge (Wikipedia)
WikipediaLead section
That can cause delays, added costs, and inconvenience to those travelling on affected routes.
Exemplified By: Trans-Siberian Railway, Body text
Also, the line connecting to the Trans-Siberian Railway from Rason to Tumangang and the Korea-Russia Friendship Bridge is dual gauged for standard gauge and Russian gauge.
In Group: Track Gauge Concepts, Lead sentence
With railways, a break of gauge occurs where a line of one track gauge (the distance between the rails, or between the wheels of trains designed to run on those rails) meets a line of a different gauge.
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