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Line 5: {{train topics}} In [[rail transport]], '''track gauge''' ~~(in [[American English]], alternatively '''track gage''')~~ is the distance between the two rails of a [[railway track]]. All vehicles on a rail network must have [[Wheelset (rail transport)\|wheelsets]] that are compatible with the track gauge. Since many different track gauges exist worldwide, gauge differences often present a barrier to wider operation on railway networks. The term derives from the metal bar, or gauge, that is used to ensure the distance between the rails is correct. Railways also deploy two other gauges to ensure compliance with a required standard. A ''[[loading gauge]]'' is a two-dimensional profile that encompasses a cross-section of the track, a rail vehicle and a maximum-sized load: all rail vehicles and their loads must be contained in the corresponding envelope. A ''[[structure gauge]]'' specifies the outline into which structures (bridges, platforms, lineside equipment etc.) must not encroach. [[File:Rail gauge world key (horizontal).png\|thumb\|500px\|Rail gauge world]] [[File:Track gauge.svg\|thumb\|500px\|Track gauge]] [[File:Rail gauge world with legend.svg\|thumb\|500px\|Rail gauge world Map]] [[File:World RR Gauge Map.agr.png\|thumb\|500px\|World RR Gauge Map]] ==Uses of the term== Line 19 ⟶ 24: {{See also\|Permanent way (history)\|Wagonway\|Plateway}} The earliest form of railway was a wooden wagonway, along which single wagons were manhandled, almost always in or from a mine or quarry. Initially the wagons were guided by human muscle power; subsequently by various mechanical methods. Timber rails wore rapidly: later, flat cast-iron plates were provided to limit the wear. In some localities, the plates were made L-shaped, with the vertical part of the L guiding the wheels; this is generally referred to as a "plateway". Flanged wheels eventually became universal, and the spacing between the rails had to be compatible with that of the wagon wheels.<ref name="lewis">M. J. T. Lewis (1970), ''Early Wooden Railways'', Routledge Keegan Paul, London</ref> As the guidance of the wagons was improved, short strings of wagons could be connected and pulled by teams of horses, and the track could be extended from the immediate vicinity of the mine or quarry, typically to a navigable waterway. The wagons were built to a consistent pattern and the track would be made to suit the needs of the horses and wagons: the gauge was more critical. The [[Merthyr Tramroad\|Penydarren Tramroad]] of 1802 in South Wales, a plateway, spaced these at {{Track gauge\|4ft4in}} over the outside of the upstands.<ref name =" cragg">R. Cragg (1997), ''Civil Engineering Heritage – Wales and West Central'', Thomas Telford Publishing, London, 2nd edition, England, {{ISBN\|0 7277 2576 9}}</ref> Line 38 ⟶ 43: ===Gauge differences=== The Liverpool and Manchester was quickly followed by other trunk railways, with the [[Grand Junction Railway]] and the [[London and Birmingham Railway]] forming a huge ~~critical mass~~preponderance of [[standard gauge]]. When Bristol promoters planned a line from London, they employed the innovative engineer [[Isambard Kingdom Brunel]]. He decided on a wider gauge, to give greater stability, and the [[Great Western Railway]] adopted a gauge of {{Track gauge\|7ft}}, later eased to {{Track gauge\|7ft0.25in\|lk=on}}. This became known as ''[[broad gauge]]''. The [[Great Western Railway]] (GWR) was successful and was greatly expanded, directly and through friendly associated companies, widening the scope of broad gauge. At the same time, other parts of Britain built railways to standard gauge, and British technology was exported to European countries and parts of North America, also using standard gauge. Britain polarised into two areas: those that used [[Brunel gauge\|broad gauge]] and those that used standard gauge. In this context, standard gauge was referred to as "narrow gauge" to indicate the contrast. Some smaller concerns selected other non-standard gauges: the [[Eastern Counties Railway]] adopted {{Track gauge\|5ft\|lk=on}}. Most of them converted to standard gauge at an early date, but the GWR's broad gauge continued to grow. Line 51 ⟶ 56: ===Gauge selection in other countries=== [[File:World RR Gauge Map.agr.png\|thumb\|300px\|Map of the world's railways showing the different gauges in use. ~~Black~~{{ubl is\|{{legend\|#a100ff\|[[3 ~~standard~~ft gauge, ~~red is broad (5~~railways\|3 ft) gauge~~, yellow is Indian gauge, orange is between Russian and Indian, blue and purple is narrow gauge.~~]] (~~See~~914 ~~map inset for details.~~mm)]]}} \|{{legend\|#6000ff\|[[Meter gauge]] (1,000 mm)}} \|{{legend\|#0500e0\|[[3 ft 6 in gauge railways\|Cape gauge]] (1,067 mm)}} \|{{legend\|#000000\|[[Standard gauge]] (1,435 mm)}} \|{{legend\|#c00100\|[[Russian gauge]] (1,520 mm)}} \|{{space\|4}}{{legend inline\|#ff0100\|[[Five foot gauge]] (1,524 mm)}} \|{{legend\|#ffa000\|[[Irish gauge]] (1,600 mm)}} \|{{legend\|#ffc000\|[[Iberian gauge]] (1,668 mm)}} \|{{legend\|#ffe000\|[[Indian gauge]] (1,676 mm)}} }} ]] [[File:Different gauges in China Railway Museum.jpg\|thumb\|right\|upright\|[[Triple gauge]], from left: {{Track gauge\|1435mm}}, {{Track gauge\|1000mm}}, and {{Track gauge\|600mm}}, on display at the [[China Railway Museum]] in [[Beijing]]]] As railways were built in other countries, the gauge selection was pragmatic: the track would have to fit the rolling stock. If locomotives were imported from elsewhere, especially in the early days, the track would be built to fit them. In some cases standard gauge was adopted, but many countries or companies chose a different gauge as their national gauge, either by governmental policy, or as a matter of individual choice.<ref>''[https://digital.lib.washington.edu/researchworks/bitstream/handle/1773/21998/Starns_washington_0250O_10676.pdf The Russian Railways and Imperial Intersections in the Russian Empire]'', Karl E. M. Starns, Thesis, University of Washington 2012, p. 33</ref> Line 61 ⟶ 76: === Standard gauge === {{Main\|Standard-gauge railway}} In modern usage the term "standard gauge" refers to {{Track gauge\|sg}}. Standard gauge is dominant in a majority of countries, including those in North America, most of western Europe, North Africa ~~and~~, the Middle ~~east~~East, and in China. ===Broad gauge=== Line 67 ⟶ 82: In modern usage, the term "broad gauge" generally refers to track spaced significantly wider than {{Track gauge\|sg}}. Broad gauge is the dominant gauge in countries in Indian subcontinent, the former Soviet Union ([[Commonwealth of Independent States\|CIS]] states, Baltic states, Georgia and Ukraine), Mongolia ~~and~~, Finland, Spain, Portugal, Argentina, Chile and Ireland. It is also used for the suburban railway systems in [[Railways in Adelaide\|South Australia]], and [[Rail transport in Victoria\|Victoria]], [[Australia]]. === Medium gauge === Line 99 ⟶ 114: ===Break of gauge=== {{Main\|Break- of- gauge\|Variable gauge}} [[File:Break of gauge GWR Gloucester.jpg\|thumb\|A cartoon depicting the horrors of goods transfer at the break of gauge at Gloucester in 1843]]Through operation between railway networks with different gauges was originally impossible; goods had to be transshipped and passengers had to change trains. This was obviously a major obstacle to convenient transport, and in Great Britain, led to political intervention. Line 115 ⟶ 130: }}</ref> A system developed by [[Talgo]] and [[Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles]] (CAF) of Spain uses variable gauge [[wheelset (rail transport)\|wheelsets]]; at the border between France and Spain, [[Through service\|through passenger trains]] are drawn slowly through an apparatus that alters the gauge of the wheels, which slide laterally on the axles.<ref name="alvarez">Alberto García Álvarez, [http://www.vialibre-ffe.com/pdf/Track_gauge_changeover.pdf "Automatic Gauge Changeover for Trains in Spain"] (PDF), Fundación de los Ferrocarrilos Españoles, 2010.</ref> A similar system is used between China and Central Asia, and between Poland and Ukraine, using the [[SUW 2000]] and [[INTERGAUGE]] variable axle systems.<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.oevg.at/aktuell/veranstaltungen/umspurung/waryn.pdf \|title=Experience and results of operation the SUW 2000 system in traffic corridors \|access-date=2008-12-07 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090319042706/http://www.oevg.at/aktuell/veranstaltungen/umspurung/waryn.pdf \|archive-date=2009-03-19 }}</ref> China and Poland use standard gauge, while Central Asia and Ukraine use {{Track gauge\|1520mm}}. Line 121 ⟶ 136: ==Dual gauge== {{Main\|Dual gauge}} [[File:Cross-section of 4-rail dual-gauge track (standard and metre gauge).png\|thumb\|right\|Cross-section of 4-rail dual-gauge track (standard and metre gauge/ narrow gauge) (click to enlarge)]] [[File:Cross-section of Australian dual-gauge railway track.tif\|thumb\|right\|Cross-section of Australian dual-gauge track – {{Track gauge\|1600mm\|comma=off}} and {{Track gauge\|1435mm\|comma=off}} gauges (click to enlarge)]] [[File:Mixed gauge Sassari.jpg\|thumb\|Mixed gauge track at Sassari, Sardinia: {{Track gauge\|1435mm\|allk=on}} and {{Track gauge\|950mm\|lk=on}}]] Line 149 ⟶ 165: ==Units== The gauge is defined in [[~~Imperial~~imperial ~~unit~~units]]s, [[metric unit]]s or [[International System of Units\|SI]] units. Imperial units were established in the United Kingdom by the [[Weights and Measures Act 1824]]. The [[United States customary units]] for length did not agree with the ~~Imperial~~imperial system until 1959, when one [[international yard]] was defined as 0.9144 meters and, as derived units, 1 foot (={{frac\|1\|3\|}} yd) as 0.3048 meter and 1 inch (={{frac\|1\|36\|}} yd) as 25.4 mm. The list shows the ~~Imperial~~imperial and other units that have been used for track gauge definitions: {\| class="wikitable sortable" ! Unit Line 197 ⟶ 213: In restricted spaces such as tunnels, the temporary way might be double track even though the tunnel will ultimately be single track. The [[Airport Link Company\|Airport Rail Link]] in Sydney had construction trains of {{Track gauge\|900mm\|lk=on}} gauge, which were replaced by permanent tracks of {{Track gauge\|1435mm}} gauge. During World War I, trench warfare led to a relatively static disposition of infantry, requiring considerable logistics to bring them support staff and supplies (food, ammunition, earthworks materials, etc.). Dense light railway networks using temporary narrow gauge track sections were established by both sides for this purpose.<ref name = wolmar>Christian Wolmar, ''Engines of War: How Wars Were Won & Lost on the Railways'', Atlantic Books, London, 2010, {{ISBN\|978-1848871724}}</ref> In 1939 it was proposed to construct the western section of the [[Yunnan–Burma Railway]] using a gauge of {{Track gauge\|15.25in\|lk=on}}, since such tiny or "toy" gauge facilitates the [[Minimum railway curve radius\|tightest of curves]] in difficult terrain.<ref>{{cite news \|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49460166 \|title=TOY RAILWAY. \|newspaper=[[The Northern Standard]] \|location=Darwin, NT \|date=8 December 1939 \|access-date=5 December 2011 \|page=15 \|publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Line 213 ⟶ 229: Narrower gauge railways usually cost less to build because they are usually lighter in construction, using smaller [[railway car\|cars]] and [[locomotive]]s (smaller [[loading gauge]]), as well as smaller [[bridge]]s, smaller [[tunnel]]s (smaller [[structure gauge]]).<ref>{{cite book \|first=Charles Easton \|last=Spooner \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3pUpAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA71 \|title=Narrow Gauge Railways \|date=1879 \|page=71}}</ref> 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 (see [[Track gauge#Temporary way – permanent way\|Temporary way – permanent way]]). For temporary railways which will be removed after short-term use, such as those used in logging, mining or large-scale construction projects, especially in confined spaces, such as when constructing the [[Channel Tunnel]], a narrow-gauge railway is substantially cheaper and easier to install and remove. Such railways have almost vanished, due to the capabilities of modern [[truck]]s. In many countries, narrow-gauge railways were built as branch lines to feed traffic to standard-gauge lines due to lower construction costs. The choice was often not between a narrow- and standard-gauge railway, but between a narrow-gauge railway and none at all. Broader gauge railways are generally more expensive to build, because they are usually heavier in construction, use larger [[railway car\|cars]] and [[locomotive]]s (larger [[loading gauge]]), as well as larger [[bridge]]s, larger [[tunnel]]s (larger [[structure gauge]]). But broader gauges offer higher speed and capacity. For routes with high traffic, greater capacity may more than offset the higher initial cost of construction. Line 246 ⟶ 262: \|- \|{{Track gauge\|1000mm}} \| [[Metre -gauge railway]] \|{{convert\|95000\|km\|mi\|disp=table}} \|7.2% Line 252 ⟶ 268: \|- \|{{Track gauge\|1067mm}} \| [[~~Three~~3 ~~foot~~ft ~~six~~6 ~~inch~~in gauge railways~~\|Three foot six inch gauge~~]] \|{{convert\|112000\|km\|mi\|disp=table}} \|8.5% Line 258 ⟶ 274: \|- \|{{Track gauge\|1435mm}} \| {{nowrap\|[[Standard -gauge railway]]}} \|{{convert\|720000\|km\|mi\|disp=table}} \|54.9% \| [[Rail transport in Albania\|Albania]], [[Rail transport in Argentina\|Argentina]], [[Rail transport in Australia\|Australia]], [[Rail transport in Austria\|Austria]], [[Rail transport in Belgium\|Belgium]], [[Rail transport in Bosnia and Herzegovina\|Bosnia and Herzegovina]], [[Rail transport in Brazil\|Brazil]] ({{convert\|194\|km\|mi\|abbr=on\|disp=or}}), [[Rail transport in Bulgaria\|Bulgaria]], [[Rail transport in Canada\|Canada]], [[Rail transport in the People's Republic of China\|China]], [[Rail transport in Croatia\|Croatia]], [[Rail transport in Cuba\|Cuba]], [[Rail transport in the Czech Republic\|Czech Republic]], [[Rail transport in Denmark\|Denmark]], [[Rail transport in Djibouti\|Djibouti]], [[Rail transport in the Democratic Republic of the Congo\|DR Congo]] (Kamina-Lubumbashi section, planned), [[Rail transport in Ethiopia\|Ethiopia]], [[Rail transport in France\|France]], [[Rail transport in Germany\|Germany]], [[Rail transport in Great Britain\|Great Britain]] (United Kingdom), [[Rail transport in Greece\|Greece]], [[Rail transport in Hong Kong\|Hong Kong]], [[Rail transport in Hungary\|Hungary]], [[Rail transport in India\|India]] (only used in [[Urban rail transit in India#Rapid transit\|rapid transit]] and [[High-speed rail in India\|High-speed rail]]), [[Rail transport in Indonesia\|Indonesia]] ([[Aceh]], [[LRT Jabodetabek]], [[LRT Jakarta]], [[MRT Jakarta East - West Line Corridor]], [[High-speed rail in Indonesia]], and [[Sulawesi]]), [[Rail transport in Italy\|Italy]], [[Rail transport in Israel\|Israel]], [[Rail transport in Kenya\|Kenya]] ([[Mombasa–Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway]]), [[Rail transport in Laos\|Laos]], [[Rail transport in Liechtenstein\|Liechtenstein]], [[Rail transport in Lithuania\|Lithuania]] ([[Rail Baltica]]), [[Rail transport in Luxembourg\|Luxembourg]], [[Rail transport in Macedonia\|Macedonia]], [[Rail transport in Mauritius\|Mauritius]] ([[Metro Express (Mauritius)\|Metro Express]]), [[Rail transport in Mexico\|Mexico]], [[Rail transport in Montenegro\|Montenegro]], [[Rail transport in the Netherlands\|Netherlands]], [[Rail transport in North Korea\|North Korea]], [[Rail transport in Norway\|Norway]], [[Rail transport in Panama\|Panama]], [[Rail transport in Peru\|Peru]], [[Rail transportation in the Philippines\|Philippines]], [[Rail transport in Poland\|Poland]], [[Rail transport in Romania\|Romania]], [[Rail transport in Serbia\|Serbia]], [[Singapore MRT]], [[Rail transport in Slovakia\|Slovakia]], [[Rail transport in Slovenia\|Slovenia]], [[Rail transport in South Korea\|South Korea]], [[Rail transport in Spain\|Spain]] ([[AVE]], [[Alvia]] and [[Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya\|FGC]]), [[Rail transport in Sweden\|Sweden]], [[Rail transport in Switzerland\|Switzerland]], [[Rail transport in Turkey\|Turkey]], [[Rail transport in the United States\|United States]], [[Rail transport in Uruguay\|Uruguay]], [[Rail transport in Venezuela\|Venezuela]], north [[Rail transport in Vietnam\|Vietnam]]. Also private companies' lines and JR high-speed lines in [[Rail transport in Japan\|Japan]]. High-speed lines in [[Rail transport in Taiwan\|Taiwan]]. [[Gautrain]] commuter system in South Africa. New lines in [[Tanzania]] and [[Nigeria]]. \|- \|{{Track gauge\|1520mm}} \| rowspan="2" \|[[5 ft and 1520 mm gauge railways~~\|Russian Gauge~~]] \|{{convert\|220000\|km\|mi\|disp=table}} \|16.8% Line 275 ⟶ 291: \|- \|{{Track gauge\|1600mm}} \| [[~~Five~~5 ~~foot~~ft ~~three~~3 ~~inch~~in gauge railways~~\|Five foot three inch gauge~~]] \|{{convert\|9800\|km\|mi\|disp=table}} \|0.7% Line 281 ⟶ 297: \|- \|{{Track gauge\|1668mm}} \| [[Iberian -gauge railways]] \|{{convert\|15394\|km\|mi\|disp=table}} \|1.2% Line 287 ⟶ 303: \|- \|{{Track gauge\|1676mm}} \| [[~~Five~~5 ~~foot~~ft ~~six~~6 ~~inch~~in gauge railways~~\|Five foot six inch gauge~~]] \|{{convert\|134008\|km\|mi\|disp=table}} \|10.2% Line 328 ⟶ 344: ===Europe=== The [[European Union]] has set out to develop inter-operable freight and passenger rail networks across its area, and is seeking to standardise gauge, signalling and electrical power systems. EU funds have been dedicated to assist [[Lithuania]], [[Latvia]], and [[Estonia]] in the building of some key railway lines ([[Rail Baltica]]) of [[standard gauge]], and to assist Spain and Portugal in the construction of high-speed lines to connect Iberian cities to one another and to the French high-speed lines. The EU has developed plans for improved freight rail links between Spain, Portugal, and the rest of Europe. EU funds have been dedicated to assist [[Lithuania]], [[Latvia]], and [[Estonia]] in the building of some key railway lines ([[Rail Baltica]]) of [[standard gauge]], and to assist Spain and Portugal in the construction of high-speed lines to connect Iberian cities to one another and to the French high-speed lines. The EU has developed plans for improved freight rail links between Spain, Portugal, and the rest of Europe. ===Trans-Asian Railway=== {{main\|Trans-Asian Railway}} The [[United Nations]] [[Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific]] (UNESCAP) is planning a [[Trans-Asian Railway]] that will link Europe and the Pacific, with a Northern Corridor from Europe to the Korean Peninsula, a Southern Corridor from Europe to Southeast Asia, and a North–South corridor from Northern Europe to the Persian Gulf. All these would encounter breaks of gauge as they cross Asia. Current plans have mechanized facilities at the breaks of gauge to move [[Intermodal container\|containers]] from train to train rather than widespread gauge conversion. The Northern Corridor through Russia already operates since before year 2000, with increasing volumes China–Europe. ===The Americas=== {{Update section\|date=May 2023}} * 2008: Proposed link between [[Rail transport in Venezuela\|Venezuela]] and [[Rail transport in Colombia\|Colombia]]<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/1066-colombia-and-venezuela-to-build-railroad.html\|title=Colombia and Venezuela to build railroad\|access-date=27 May 2011\|archive-date=25 March 2012\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325105831/http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/1066-colombia-and-venezuela-to-build-railroad.html\|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{Update inline\|date=May 2023}} * 2008: Venezuela via Brazil to Argentina – [[standard gauge]]<ref>{{cite news\| url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-08/21/content_9565433.htm\| agency=Xinhua\| title=Venezuela, Argentina begin construction of railway linking their capitals\| work=China Daily\| date=2008-08-21\| access-date=2008-08-21\| url-status=dead\| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090304211950/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-08/21/content_9565433.htm\| archive-date=2009-03-04}}</ref>{{Update inline\|date=May 2023}} * 2008: A proposed [[metre gauge]] line across Southern [[Rail transport in Paraguay\|Paraguay]] to link Argentina at [[Resistencia, Chaco\|Resistencia]] to Brazil at [[Cascavel]]; both those lines are {{Track gauge\|1000mm\|allk=on}}, and the new line would allow "bioceanic" running from the Atlantic port of [[Paranaguá]] in [[Rail transport in Brazil\|Brazil]] to that of [[Antofagasta]] in [[Rail transport in Chile\|Chile]] on the Pacific.{{Update inline\|date=May 2023}} Line 365 ⟶ 380: \| {{Track gauge\|5ft}} \|\| 1842 \|\| [[George Washington Whistler]] for the [[Moscow – Saint Petersburg Railway]] based on Southern US practice \|- \| {{Track gauge\|5ft3in}} \|\| 1846 \|\| ~~chosen~~Chosen in Ireland as a compromise \|- \| {{Track gauge\|5ft6in}} \|\| 1853 \|\| [[Lord Dalhousie]] for [[British India]], following recommendations of Mr. W. Simms, a consulting engineer<ref>{{cite book \|last1=Chandra \|first1=Satish \|last2=Agarwal \|first2=M.M. \|date=2013 \|title=Railway Engineering, Second Edition \|location=India \|publisher=Oxford University Press \|page=32 \|isbn=9780198083535}}</ref><ref>{{cite web \|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/broad-and-standard-118042000034_1.html \|title=Broad and Standard \|last=Debroy \|first=Bibek \|date=20 April 2018 \|website=business-standard.com \|publisher=Business Standard \|access-date=9 January 2024}}</ref> ~~\| {{Track gauge\|5ft6in}} \|\| 1853 \|\| [[Lord Dalhousie]] in India following Scottish practice~~ \|- \| {{Track gauge\|3ft6in}} \|\| 1862 \|\| [[Carl Pihl]] for the [[Røros Line]] in Norway to reduce costs Line 408 ⟶ 423: {{Commons category\|Track gauge}} {{Wikidata property\|P1064}} * [https://www.openrailwaymap.org/?style=gauge~~&lang=en&lat=51.58248&lon=15.6501&zoom=3~~ OpenRailwayMap]. A global track gauge map * [http://www.trains.com/trn/default.aspx?c=a&id=234 A history of track gauge] {{Webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204140600/http://www.trains.com/trn/default.aspx?c=a&id=234 \|date=4 December 2008 }} by George W. Hilton * {{cite web\|url=http://parovoz.com/spravka/gauges-e.html\|title=Railroad Gauge Width\|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717001706/http://parovoz.com/spravka/gauges-en.php\|archive-date=17 July 2012\|url-status=dead}} – A list of railway gauges used or being used worldwide, including gauges that are obsolete. * [http://www.era.eu.int/public/Interoperability/CR%20TSI%20-%205%20-%201520%20 mm%20system.aspx European Railway Agency: 1520 mm systems]{{Dead link\|date=August 2018 \|bot=InternetArchiveBot \|fix-attempted=yes }} (issues with the participation of 1520/1524 mm gauge countries in the EU rail network)