DIPLOMA CIVIL ENGINEERING

1. CE 205: TRANSPORTATION
ENGINEERING
Railway Track Gauge
BY
DEVENDRA JANGID( CIVIL)

2. Introduction
Gauge is defined as the minimum distance between inner face
two rails. Indian Railways follows this standard practice and the
gauge is measured as the clear minimum distance between the
running faces of the two rails as shown in Fig.

3. TYPES OF GAUGES IN INDIA
THE DIFFERENT GAUGES IN INDIA ARE OF THE FOLLOWING THESE TYPES :-
BROAD GAUGE (1676), METER GAUGE (1000), NARROW GAUGE (762 MM & 610
MM). IN INDIA, EFFORTS ARE BEING MADE TO CONVERT ALL N.G. AND M.G.
LINES TO B.G. LINES ON IMPORTANT SECTIONS AS AND WHEN FUNDS ARE
AVAILABLE.

4. Loading gauge
1. A LOADING GAUGE DEFINES THE MAXIMUM
HEIGHT AND WIDTH FOR RAILWAY VEHICLES
AND THEIR LOADS TO ENSURE SAFE PASSAGE
THROUGH BRIDGES, TUNNELS AND OTHER
STRUCTURES.
2. THE LOADING GAUGE DETERMINES THE SIZES
OF PASSENGER TRAINS AND THE SIZE OF
SHIPPING CONTAINERS THAT CAN BE
CONVEYED ON A SECTION OF RAILWAY LINE
AND VARIES ACROSS THE WORLD AND OFTEN
WITHIN A SINGLE RAILWAY SYSTEM.

5. Choice of Gauge
The choice of gauge is very limited, as each country has a fixed gauge and all new railway lines are
constructed to adhere to the standard gauge. However, the following factors theoretically
influence the choice of the gauge.
1.Cost Considerations:
There is only a marginal increase in the cost of the track if a wider gauge is adopted. In this
connection, the following points are important.
(a) There is a proportional increase in the cost of acquisition of land, earthwork, rails, sleepers,
ballast, and other track items when constructing a wider gauge.
(b) The cost of building bridges, culverts, and tunnels increases only marginally due to a wider
gauge.
(c) The cost of constructing station buildings, platforms, staff quarters, level crossings, signals, etc.
associated with the railway network is more or less the same for all gauges.
(d) The cost of rolling stock is independent of the gauge of the track for carrying the same
volume of traffic.

6. 2. Traffic Considerations:
The volume of traffic depends upon the size of wagons and the speed and hauling capacity of the train.
(a) As a wider gauge can carry larger wagons and coaches, it can theoretically carry more traffic.
(b) A wider gauge has a greater potential at higher speeds, because speed is a function of the diameter
of the wheel, which in turn is limited by the width of the gauge.
(c) The type of traction and signalling equipment required are independent of the gauge.
3. Physical Features of the Country:
It is possible to adopt steeper gradients and sharper curves for a narrow gauge a compared to a wider
gauge.
4. Uniformity of Gauge:
The existence of a uniform gauge in a country enables smooth, speedy, and efficient operation of trains.
Therefore a single gauge should be adopted irrespective of the minor advantages of a wider gauge and the
few limitations of a narrower gauge.

7. Advantages and disadvantages of different track gauges
 Narrow gauge railways usually cost less to build because they are usually lighter in construction, using
smaller cars and locomotives (smaller loading gauge), as well as smaller bridges, smaller tunnels (smaller
structure gauge) and tighter curves.
 Narrow gauge is thus often used in mountainous terrain, where the savings in civil engineering work can
be substantial. It is also used in sparsely populated areas, with low potential demand, and for temporary
railways that will be removed after short-term use, such as for construction, the logging industry, the
mining industry, or large-scale construction projects, especially in confined spaces.
 Broader gauge railways are generally more expensive to build, but are able to handle heavier and faster
traffic.

8. 750 mm narrow gauge railway in Switzerland.
Meter gauge tracks, Istanbul nostalgic tramways, Turkey.
In approximately 55% of the world’s railways are used standard gauge (1435
mm).

9. Construction gauge
By adding suitable clearance at the top side of the loading gauge construction
gauge is obtained.
It decides the dimensions such as height and width of structures in bridges and
tunnels along the track so that all wagons may pass through them without
damage to the structures.

10. THANKS