Variable gauge

Variable gauge axles are axles that allow railway vehicles to pass from tracks of one rail gauge to a different gauge. Variable gauge axles are used to allow the running of trains between Spain and France, Europe and Russia, Kazakhstan and China, and Mongolia and China.

There are several alternatives to such a system including transferring the cargo, replacing the wheels and axles, replacing entire bogies and use of transporter wagons.

Overview

Variable gauge axles help solve the problem of a break of gauge without having to resort to dual gauge tracks.

There are several variable gauge axle systems:

That of the Talgo-RD. This system dates from 1968 and is patented.
- The Talgo system has been in revenue service in Portbou at the Spanish-French border since 1968
- The Talgo system has been in revenue service in Irun at the Spanish-French border since 1968
That of CAF-BRAVA
- The CAF system was originally designed in 1968 by the Vevey Company (since absorbed by Bombardier Transportation), a company located in the city of Vevey on Lake Geneva, in Switzerland and was originally called the "Vevey axle" ^[1]. The design was subsequently obtained and improved by Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF).
That of DB Cargo-Knorr-Bremse. ^[2] being developed in 2002 for use between Europe and Russia.
That of DBAG-Rafil Type V for freight. ^[3]
That of Japan Railways hoping to include motorised axles. ^[4]

Canada

Variable gauge axles were used for a while in 19th century Canada but proved unreliable.^{[citation needed]}

Timeline

2004

In February 2004, RENFE placed orders for:

Forty-five CAF/Alstom 25 kV AC/3 kV DC, variable gauge EMUs for 250 km/h regional services, between October 2006 and May 2009 (€580 million)
Twenty-six 25 kV AC variable gauge trains for 250 km/h long-distance services using two Bombardier power cars and Talgo Series VII trailer cars (€370 million) [3]

2003

Since 14 December, VGA trains introduced between Krakow and Kiev in lieu of bogie exchange. ^[5] VGA saves about 3 hours compared to bogie exchange. Gauges involved are 1435 and 1520.

External links

EP1112908 European Patent
EP0873929 European Patent

References

^ La Vie du Rail, No. 1415, 4 November 1973, ÉCARTEMENTS VARIABLES: L' "ESSIEU MIRACLE" EST-IL NÉ DANS LE CANTON DE VAUD? [1] in French or [2] in English)
^ Janes World Railways 2002-2003 p165.
^ Variable-Gauge Wagon Wheelsets - Brief Article | International Railway Journal | Find Articles at BNET.com
^ Science Links Japan | Development of Variable Gauge Bogie
^ http://www.steane.com/egtre/ua_info.htm

[1] La Vie du Rail, No. 1415, 4 November 1973, ÉCARTEMENTS VARIABLES: L' "ESSIEU MIRACLE" EST-IL NÉ DANS LE CANTON DE VAUD? [1] in French or [2] in English)

[2] Janes World Railways 2002-2003 p165.

[3] Variable-Gauge Wagon Wheelsets - Brief Article | International Railway Journal | Find Articles at BNET.com

[4] Science Links Japan | Development of Variable Gauge Bogie

[5] ttp://www.steane.com/egtre/ua_info.htm

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