Loading gauge

Larger out-of-gauge loads can also sometimes be conveyed by taking one or more of the following measures:

• Operate at low speed, especially in places with limited clearance, such as platforms.
• Cross over from a track with inadequate clearance to another track with greater clearance, even if there is no signalling to allow this.
• Prevent operation of other trains on adjacent tracks.
• Use refuge loops to allow trains to operate on other tracks.
• Use of Schnabel cars (special rolling stock) that manipulate the load up and down or left and right to clear obstacles.
• Remove (and later replace) obstacles.
• Use gauntlet track to shift the train to side or center.
• For locomotives that are too heavy, ensure that fuel tanks are nearly empty.
• Turn off power in overhead wiring or in the third rail (use diesel locomotive)
• Permanently adapt a certain route to larger gauge if there is repeated need for such trains.

UIC loading gauges

The International Union of Railways (UIC) has developed a standard series of loading gauges named A, B, B+ and C.

• PPI – the predecessor of the UIC gauges had the maximum dimensions 3.15 by 4.28 m (10 ft 4 in by 14 ft 1 in) with an almost round roof top.
• UIC A: The smallest (slightly larger than PPI gauge).[5] Maximum dimensions 3.15 by 4.32 m (10 ft 4 in by 14 ft 2 in).[6]
• UIC B: Most of the high-speed TGV tracks in France are built to UIC B.[5] Maximum dimensions 3.15 by 4.32 m (10 ft 4 in by 14 ft 2 in).[6]
• UIC B+: New structures in France are being built to UIC B+.[5] Up to 4.28 m (14 ft 1 in) has a shape to accommodate tractor-trailers loaded with ISO containers.
• UIC C: The Central European gauge. In Germany and other central European countries, the railway systems are built to UIC C gauges, sometimes with an increment in the width, allowing Scandinavian trains to reach German stations directly, originally built for Soviet freight cars. Maximum dimensions 3.15 by 4.65 m (10 ft 4 in by 15 ft 3 in).[6]

Railway clearance G1 and G2 (Germany)

In the European Union, the UIC directives were supplanted by ERA Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSI) of European Union in 2002, which has defined a number of recommendations to harmonize the train systems. The TSI Rolling Stock (2002/735/EC) has taken over the UIC Gauges definitions defining Kinematic Gauges with a reference profile such that Gauges GA and GB have a height of 4.35 m (14 ft 3 in) (they differ in shape) with Gauge GC rising to 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) allowing for a width of 3.08 m (10 ft 1 in) of the flat roof.[7] All cars must fall within an envelope of 3.15 m (10 ft 4 in) wide on a 250 m (12.4 ch; 820 ft) radius curve. The TGVs, which are 2.9 m (9 ft 6 in) wide, fall within this limit.

The designation of a GB+ loading gauge refers to the plan to create a pan-European freight network for ISO containers and trailers with loaded ISO containers. These container trains (piggy-back trains) fit into the B envelope with a flat top so that only minor changes are required for the widespread structures built to loading gauge B on continental Europe. A few structures on the British Isles were extended to fit with GB+ as well, where the first lines to be rebuilt start at the Channel Tunnel.[8]

Owing to their historical legacies, many member states' railways do not conform to the TSI specification. For example, Britain's role at the forefront of railway development in the 19th century has condemned it to the small infrastructure dimensions of that era. Conversely, the loading gauges of countries that were satellites of the former Soviet Union are much larger than the TSI specification. Other than for GB+, they are not likely to be retrofitted, given the enormous cost and disruption that would be entailed.

Zürich – Lucerne IC 2000 double-decker Intercity train

Double-decker carriage as used on French TGV railways

A specific example of the value of these loading gauges is that they permit double decker passenger carriages. Although mainly used for suburban commuter lines, France is notable for using them on its high speed TGV services: the SNCF TGV Duplex carriages are 4,303 millimetres (14 ft 1+3⁄8 in) high,[14] and the Netherlands and Switzerland feature large numbers of double decker intercity trains as well.

Great Britain has (in general) the most restrictive loading gauge (relative to track gauge) in the world. That is a legacy of the British railway network being the world's oldest, and of having been built by a plethora of different private companies, each with different standards for the width and height of trains. After nationalisation, a standard static gauge W5 was defined in 1951 that would virtually fit everywhere in the network. The W6 gauge is a refinement of W5, and the W6a changed the lower body to accommodate third-rail electrification. While the upper body is rounded for W6a with a static curve, there is an additional small rectangular notch for W7 to accommodate the transport of 2.44 m (8 ft 0 in) ISO containers, and the W8 loading gauge has an even larger notch spanning outside of the curve to accommodate the transport of 2.6 m (8 ft 6 in) ISO containers. While W5 to W9 are based on a rounded roof structure, those for W10 to W12 define a flat line at the top and, instead of a strict static gauge for the wagons, their sizes are derived from dynamic gauge computations for rectangular freight containers.[15]

Network Rail uses a W loading gauge classification system of freight transport ranging from W6A (smallest) through W7, W8, W9, W9Plus, W10, W11 to W12 (largest). The definitions assume a common "lower sector structure gauge" with a common freight platform at 1,100 mm (43.31 in) above rail.[16]

In addition, gauge C1 provides a specification for standard coach stock, gauge C3 for longer Mark 3 coaching stock, gauge C4 for Pendolino stock[17] and gauge UK1 for high-speed rail. There is also a gauge for locomotives. The size of container that can be conveyed depends both upon the size of the load that can be conveyed and the design of the rolling stock.[18]

• W6a: Available over the majority of the British rail network.[19]
• W8: Allows standard 2.6 m (8 ft 6 in) high shipping containers to be carried on standard wagons.[20]
• W9: Allows 2.9 m (9 ft 6 in) high Hi-Cube shipping containers to be carried on "Megafret"[21] wagons that have lower deck height with reduced capacity.[20] At 2.6 m (8 ft 6 in) wide, it allows for 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) wide Euro shipping containers,[22] which are designed to carry Euro-pallets efficiently[8][23]
• W10: Allows 2.9 m (9 ft 6 in) high Hi-Cube shipping containers to be carried on standard wagons[20] and also allows 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) wide Euro shipping containers.[22] Larger than UIC A.[8]
• W11: Little used but larger than UIC B.
• W12: Slightly wider than W10 at 2.6 m (8 ft 6 in) to accommodate refrigerated containers.[24] Recommended clearance for new structures, such as bridges and tunnels.[25]
• UIC GC: Channel Tunnel and Channel Tunnel Rail Link to London; with proposals to upgrade the Midland Main Line northwards from London to GB+ standards.[26]

A strategy was adopted in 2004 to guide enhancements of loading gauges[27] and in 2007 the freight route utilisation strategy was published. That identified a number of key routes where the loading gauge should be cleared to W10 standard and, where structures are being renewed, that W12 is the preferred standard.[25]

Height and width of containers that can be carried on GB gauges (height by width). Units as per source material.

• W9: 9 ft 0 in (2.74 m) by 8 ft 6 in (2.6 m)
• W10: 9 ft 6 in (2.90 m) by 8 ft 2 in (2.5 m)
• W11: 9 ft 6 in (2.90 m) by 8 ft 4 in (2.55 m)
• W12: 9 ft 6 in (2.90 m) by 8 ft 6 in (2.6 m)[22]

• City and South London Railway was built with tunnels of only 10.5 ft (3.20 m) diameter. Enlarged for Northern line to 12.0 ft (3.66 m)
• Central line with tunnels of 11 ft 8+1⁄4 in (3.56 m), increased on curves, reduced to 11 ft 6 in (3.51 m) near to stations. This makes Central line trains unique on the London Underground system because, although the loading gauge of the rolling stock is the same as the other 'tube' lines, the smaller size of the tunnel requires that the positive conductor rail is 1.6 in (41 mm) higher than on all other lines.

A Parliamentary committee headed by James Stansfeld then reported on 23 May 1892, "The evidence submitted to the Committee on the question of the diameter of the underground tubes containing the railways has been distinctly in favour of a minimum diameter of 11 ft 6 in (3.51 m)". After that, all tube lines were at least that size.[28]

• Piccadilly line with tunnels of 12 ft (3.66 m)
• Victoria line with tunnels of 12.5 ft (3.81 m); enlarged to reduce air friction.
• Glasgow Subway with tunnels of 11 ft (3.35 m) and a unique track gauge of only 4 ft (1,219 mm).
• Tyne and Wear Metro with tunnels of 15.5 ft (4.72 m); built to mainline rail network standards.

Sweden uses shapes similar to the Central European loading gauge, but trains are allowed to be much wider.

There are three main classes in use (width × height):[29]

• Class SE-A is 3.40 by 4.65 m (11 ft 2 in by 15 ft 3 in). Similar to OPS-NL (Netherlands), Victorian (Australia) and Chinese loading gauges.
• Class SE-B is 3.40 by 4.30 m (11 ft 2 in by 14 ft 1 in). Similar to Norwegian loading gauge.
• Class SE-C is 3.60 by 4.83 m (11 ft 10 in by 15 ft 10 in) with a completely flat roof top. Similar to OPS-GC (Netherlands) loading gauge.

The Iron Ore Line north of Kiruna was the first electrified railway line in Sweden and has limited height clearance (SE-B) because of snow shelters. On the rest of the network belonging to the Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket), the structure gauge accepts cars built to SE-A and thus accepts both cars built to UIC GA and GB. Some modern electric multiple units, like Regina X50 with derivatives, are somewhat wider than normally permitted by SE-A at 3.45 m (11 ft 4 in). This is generally acceptable as the extra width is above normal platform height, but it means that they can not use the high platforms that Arlanda Express uses (Arlanda Central Station has normal clearances). The greater width allows sleeping cars in which tall people can sleep with straight legs and feet, which is not the case on the continent.

In the Netherlands, a similar shape to the UIC C is used that rises to 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) in height. The trains are wider allowing for 3.40 m (11 ft 2 in) width similar to Sweden. About one third of the Dutch passenger trains use bilevel rail cars. However, Dutch platforms are much higher than Swedish ones.

• Betuweroute: 4.10 by 6.15 m (13 ft 5+3⁄8 in by 20 ft 2+1⁄8 in) to allow double stacked container trains in the future. The present overhead line does not allow this height, as it has to follow standards.

• Channel Tunnel: 4.10 by 5.60 m (13 ft 5+3⁄8 in by 18 ft 4+1⁄2 in)

The American loading gauge for freight cars on the North American rail network is generally based on standards set by the Association of American Railroads (AAR) Mechanical Division.[30] The most widespread standards are AAR Plate B and AAR Plate C,[31] but higher loading gauges have been introduced on major routes outside urban centers to accommodate rolling stock that makes better economic use of the network, such as auto carriers, hi-cube boxcars, and double-stack container loads.[32] The maximum width of 10 ft 8 in (3.25 m) on 41 ft 3 in (12.57 m) and 46 ft 3 in (14.10 m) truck centers is valid on a 441 ft 8+3⁄8 in (134.63 m) radius or 13° curve.[30][31]

Listed here are the maximum heights and widths for cars. However, the specification in each AAR plate shows a car cross section that is chamfered at the top and bottom, meaning that a compliant car is not permitted to fill an entire rectangle of the maximum height and width.[31]

AAR Plate	Width		Height		Truck centers		Comments	Image
	ft in	m	ft in	m	ft in	m
B	10  8	3.25	15  1	4.60	41  3	12.57	For longer truck centers, the width is decreased according to graph AAR Plate B-1 on a 441 ft 8+3⁄8 in (134.63 m) radius curve[30] or AAR Plate D-1[31]
C	10  8	3.25	15  6	4.72	46  3	14.10	For longer truck centers, the width is decreased according to graph AAR Plate C-1 on a 441 ft 8+3⁄8 in (134.63 m) radius curve[30] or AAR Plate D-1[31]
E	10  8	3.25	15  9	4.80	46  3	14.10	However the top of rail clearance is 2+3⁄4 in (70 mm) instead of 2+1⁄2 in (64 mm).[31][33]
F	10  8	3.25	17  0	5.18	46  3	14.10	As with AAR Plate C but 18 in (457 mm) taller than AAR Plate C and 15 in (381 mm) taller than AAR Plate E, and the car cross section is larger at the top than AAR Plate E.[31]
H	10  8	3.25[34]	20  3	6.17	62  7	19.08[34]	e.g. double stacked containers in well cars. The cross section at the bottom of the well car differs from the X section of all other AAR plates. X section at center of car[31][35][34]
H	10  1	3.07[31]	20  3	6.17	63  9	19.43	e.g. double stacked containers at greater than 63 ft 9 in (19.43 m) truck centers The cross section at the bottom of the well car differs from all other AAR Plates.[31][36] in well cars[34]
---	9  10+1⁄4	3.00[34]	3  11	1.19[34]	66  0	20.12[34]	e.g. 85-foot-2+1⁄2-inch (25.97 m)[34] long flatcars, *Height of deck at center of car[34] Width covered by AAR Plate D-1.[31]
J	10  8	3.25	19  0	5.79	55  0	16.76	Truck centers can be more. Widths covered by AAR Plate D-1.[31]
K	10  0	3.05	20  3	6.17[31]	65  0	19.81	e.g. Autorack (road vehicles on trains). Width at center of car covered by AAR Plate D-1[31][34][37]
L	10  8	3.25	16  3	4.95	46  3	14.10	For locomotives only[31]
M	10  8	3.25	16  3	4.95	46  3	14.10	For locomotives only [31]

Technically, AAR Plate B is still the maximum height and truck center combination[30][31] and the circulation of AAR Plate C is somewhat restricted. The prevalence of excess-height rolling stock, at first ~18 ft (5.49 m) piggybacks and hicube boxcars, then later autoracks, airplane-parts cars, and flatcars for hauling Boeing 737 fuselages, as well as 20 ft 3 in (6.17 m) high double-stacked containers in container well cars, has been increasing. This means that most, if not all, lines are now designed for a higher loading gauge. The width of these extra-height cars is covered by AAR Plate D-1.[30][31]

All the Class I rail companies have invested in longterm projects to increase clearances to allow double stack freight. The mainline North American rail networks of the Union Pacific, the BNSF, the Canadian National, and the Canadian Pacific, have already been upgraded to AAR Plate K. This represents over 60% of the Class I rail network.[38]

• 
  Boeing 737 Next Generation fuselage being transported by rail
• 
  Double-stack container service requires the highest loading gauge in common use in North America.
• 
  A Norfolk Southern autorack on a TTX flatcar
• 
  A Santa Fe semi-trailer carried on a flatcar as part of a TOFC train.

Standard AAR passenger loading gauge (does not accommodate Amtrak "Superliners" nor ex-AT&SF "Hi-Level" cars)

The old standard North American passenger railcar is 10 ft 6 in (3.20 m) wide by 14 ft 6 in (4.42 m) high and measures 85 ft 0 in (25.91 m) over coupler pulling faces with 59 ft 6 in (18.14 m) truck centers, or 86 ft 0 in (26.21 m) over coupler pulling faces with 60 ft 0 in (18.29 m) truck centers. In the 1940s and 1950s, the American passenger car loading gauge was increased to a 16 ft 6 in (5.03 m) height throughout most of the country outside the Northeast, to accommodate dome cars and later Superliners and other bilevel commuter trains. Bilevel and Hi-level passenger cars have been in use since the 1950s, and new passenger equipment with a height of 19 ft 9+1⁄2 in (6.03 m) has been built for use in Alaska and the Canadian Rockies. The structure gauge of the Mount Royal Tunnel limits the height of bilevel cars to 14 feet 6 inches (4.42 m).

The New York City Subway is an amalgamation of three former constituent companies, and while all are standard gauge, inconsistencies in loading gauge prevent cars from the former BMT and IND systems (B Division) from running on the lines of the former IRT system (A Division), and vice versa. This is mainly because IRT tunnels and stations are approximately 1 foot (305 mm) narrower than the others, meaning that IRT cars running on the BMT or IND lines would have platform gaps of over 8 inches (203 mm) between the train and some platforms, whereas BMT and IND cars would not even fit into an IRT station without hitting the platform edge. Taking this into account, all maintenance vehicles are built to IRT loading gauge so that they can be operated over the entire network, and employees are responsible for minding the gap.

Another inconsistency is the maximum permissible railcar length. Cars in the former IRT system are 51 feet (15.54 m) as of December 2013. Railcars in the former BMT and IND can be longer: on the former Eastern Division, the cars are limited to 60 feet (18.29 m), while on the rest of the BMT and IND lines plus the Staten Island Railway (which uses modified IND stock) the cars may be as long as 75 feet (22.86 m).[39][40]

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's (MBTA) rapid transit system is composed of four unique subway lines; while all lines are standard gauge, inconsistencies in loading gauge, electrification, and platform height prevent trains on one line from being used on another. The first segment of the Green Line (known as the Tremont Street subway) was constructed in 1897 to take the streetcars off Boston's busy downtown streets. When the Blue Line opened in 1904, it only ran streetcar services; the line was converted to rapid transit in 1924 due to high passenger loads, but the tight clearances in the tunnel under the Boston Harbor required narrower and shorter rapid transit cars.[41] The Orange Line was originally built in 1901 to accommodate heavy rail transit cars of higher capacity than streetcars. The Red Line was opened in 1912, designed to handle what were for a time the largest underground transit cars in the world.[42]^: 127

The Los Angeles Metro Rail system is an amalgamation of two former constituent companies, the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission and the Southern California Rapid Transit District; both of those companies were responsible for planning the initial system. It is composed of two heavy rail subway lines and several light rail lines with subway sections; while all lines are standard gauge, inconsistencies in electrification and loading gauge prohibit the light rail trains from operating on the heavy rail lines, and vice versa. The LACTC-planned Blue Line was opened in 1990 and partially operates on the route of the Pacific Electric interurban railroad line between downtown Los Angeles and Long Beach, which used overhead electrification and street-running streetcar vehicles. The SCRTD-planned Red Line (later split into the Red and Purple lines) was opened in 1993 and was designed to handle high-capacity heavy rail transit cars that would operate underground. Shortly after the Red Line began operations, the LACTC and the SCRTD merged to form the LACMTA, which became responsible for planning and construction of the Green, Gold, Expo, and K lines, as well as the D Line Extension and the Regional Connector.

Major trunk raillines in East Asian countries, including China, North Korea, South Korea, as well as the Shinkansen of Japan, have all adopted a loading gauge of 3,400 mm (11 ft 2 in) maximum width and can accept the maximum height of 4,500 mm (14 ft 9 in).[43]

The maximum height, width, and length of general Chinese rolling stock are 4,800 mm (15 ft 9 in), 3,400 mm (11 ft 2 in) and 26 m (85 ft 4 in) respectively, with an extra out-of-gauge load allowance of height and width 5,300 by 4,450 mm (17 ft 5 in by 14 ft 7 in) with some special shape limitation, corresponding to a structure gauge of 5,500 by 4,880 mm (18 ft 1 in by 16 ft 0 in).[44] China is building numerous new railways in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia (such as in Kenya and Laos), and these are being built to "Chinese Standards". This presumably means track gauge, loading gauge, structure gauge, couplings, brakes, electrification, etc.[45] An exception may be double stacking, which has a height limit of 5,850 mm (19 ft 2 in). Metre gauge in China has a gauge of 3,050 mm (10 ft 0 in).

Translation of legend:

Trains on the Shinkansen network operate on 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge track and have a loading gauge of 3,400 mm (11 ft 2 in) maximum width and 4,500 mm (14 ft 9 in) maximum height.[46] This allows the operation of double-deck high-speed trains.

Mini Shinkansen (former conventional 1,067 mm or 3 ft 6 in narrow gauge lines that have been regauged into 1,435 mm or 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in standard gauge) and some private railways in Japan (including some lines of the Tokyo subway and all of the Osaka Metro) also use standard gauge; however, their loading gauges are different.

The rest of Japan's system is discussed under narrow gauge, below.

The body frame may have a maximum height of 4,500 mm (14 ft 9 in) and a maximum width of 3,400 mm (11 ft 2 in) with additional installations allowed up to 3,600 mm (11 ft 10 in). That width of 3,400 mm is only allowed above 1,250 mm (4 ft 1 in) as the common passenger platforms are built to former standard trains of 3,200 mm (10 ft 6 in) in width.

There is currently no uniform standard for loading gauges in the country and both loading gauges and platform heights vary by rail line.

The North–South Commuter Railway allows passenger trains with a carbody width of 3,100 mm (10 ft 2 in) and a height of 4,300 mm (14 ft 1 in). Additional installations shall also be allowed up to 3,300 mm (10 ft 10 in) at a platform height of 1,100 mm (3 ft 7 in) where it is limited by half-height platform screen doors. Above the platform gate height of 1,200 mm (3 ft 11 in) above the platforms, out-of-gauge installations can be further maximized to the Asian standard at 3,400 mm (11 ft 2 in).[47]

Meanwhile, the PNR South Long Haul will follow the Chinese gauge and therefore use a larger carbody width of 3,300 mm (10 ft 10 in) from the specifications of passenger rolling stock, and a height of 4,770 mm (15 ft 8 in) per P70-type boxcar specifications.[47]

Some of the new railways being built in Africa allow for double-stacked containers, the height of which is about 5,800 mm (19 ft 0 in) depending on the height of each container 2,438 mm (8 ft 0 in) or 2,900 mm (9 ft 6 in) plus the height of the deck of the flat wagon about 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 in) totalling 5,800 mm (19 ft 0 in). This exceeds the China height standard for single stacked containers of 4,800 mm (15 ft 9 in). Additional height of about 900 mm (2 ft 11 in) is needed for overhead wires for 25 kV AC electrification.

The permissible width of the new African standard gauge railways is 3,400 mm (11 ft 2 in).

The standard gauge lines of New South Wales Government Railways (NSWGR) allowed for a width of 9 ft 6 in (2.90 m) until 1910, after a conference of the states created a new standard of 10 ft 6 in (3.20 m), with corresponding increase in track centres. The narrow widths have mostly been eliminated, except, for example, at the mainline platforms at Gosford railway station and some sidings. The longest carriages are 72 ft 6 in (22.10 m).

The Commonwealth Railways adopted the national standard of 10 ft 6 in (3.20 m) when they were established in 1912, although no connection with New South Wales was made until 1970.

A double deck Electric Tangara train of the late 1980s was 3,000 mm (9 ft 10.1 in) wide. Track centres from Penrith railway station to Mount Victoria railway station and Gosford and Wyong have been gradually widened to suit. The proposed Korean manufactured intercity sets are however 3,100 mm (122.0 in) wide, so further, costly modification was required beyond Springwood,[48] which was completed in 2020.[49]

The 1968 built Kwinana-Kalgoorlie standard gauge railway in Western Australia was built with a loading gauge of 12 ft (3.66 m) wide and 20 ft (6.1 m) tall to allow for trailer on flatcar (TOFC) traffic.[50]

• The smallest loading gauge for a 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) gauge railway is the Delhi Metro, which is 3,250 mm (10 ft 8 in) wide and 4,140 mm (13 ft 7 in) high.
• Indian Railways has a maximum passenger loading gauge of 3,660 mm[51] and a freight loading gauge of 3,250 mm, with development allowing a loading gauge of 3,710 mm.[52]
• Sri Lanka Railways has a loading gauge of between 3,200 mm and 4,267 mm.[53]

In Finland, the rail cars can be up to 3.4 m (11 ft 2 in) wide with a permitted height from 4.37 m (14 ft 4 in) on the sides to 5.3 m (17 ft 5 in) in the middle.[54] The track gauge is 1,524 mm (5 ft), differing 4 mm (5⁄32 in) from the 1,520 mm (4 ft 11+27⁄32 in) Russian track gauge.

The Russian loading gauges are defined in standard GOST 9238 (ГОСТ 9238–83, ГОСТ 9238–2013) with the current 2013 standard named "Габариты железнодорожного подвижного состава и приближения строений" (construction of rolling stock clearance diagrams [official English title]).[55] It was accepted by the Interstate Council for Standardization, Metrology and Certification to be valid in Russia, Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Armenia.[55] Loading gauge is generally wider than Europe, but with many exception standards.

• T: standard loading gauge
  • T: 5,300 mm height, 3,750 mm width
  • T_c: 5,200 mm height, 3,750 mm width: for tank and dumper cars
  • T_pr: 5,300 mm height, 3,500 mm width: extra out-of-gauge cargo load for main tracks
• 1-T: guaranteed loading gauge for all ex-USSR lines including old tunnels.
  • 1-T: 5,300 mm height, 3,400 mm width
• VM: for international stock for 1435 mm lines, standards for different lines
  • 0-VM: 4,650 mm height, 3,250 mm width
  • 1-VM: 4,700 mm height, 3,400 mm width
  • 02-VM: 4,650 mm height, 3,150 mm width
  • 03-VM: 4,280 mm height, 3,150 mm width

The standard defines static envelopes for trains on the national network as T, T_c and T_pr. The static profile 1-T is the common standard on the complete 1520 mm rail network including the CIS and Baltic states. The structure clearance is given as S, S_p and S₂₅₀. There is a tradition that structure clearance is much bigger than the common train sizes. For international traffic, the standard references the kinematic envelope for GC and defines a modified GC_ru for its high-speed trains. For other international traffic, there are 1-T, 1-VM, 0-VM, 02-VM and 03-VM_st/03-VM_k for the trains and 1-SM for the structure clearance.[55]

The main static profile T allows for a maximum width of 3,750 mm (12 ft 3+5⁄8 in) rising to a maximum height of 5,300 mm (17 ft 4+11⁄16 in). The profile T_c allows that width only at a height of 3,000 mm (9 ft 10+1⁄8 in), requiring a maximum of 3,400 mm (11 ft 1+7⁄8 in) below 1,270 mm (50 in), which matches with the standard for train platforms (with a height of 1,100 mm [43.3 in]). The profile T_pr has the same lower frame requirement but reduces the maximum upper body width to 3,500 mm (11 ft 5+13⁄16 in). The more universal profile 1-T has the complete body at a maximum width of 3,400 mm (11 ft 1+7⁄8 in) still rising to a height of 5,300 mm (17 ft 4+11⁄16 in).[55] Exceptions shall be double-stacking, maximum height shall be 6,150 mm (20 ft 2+1⁄8 in) or 6,400 mm (20 ft 11+15⁄16 in).

The structure gauge S requires buildings to be placed at minimum of 3,100 mm (10 ft 2+1⁄16 in) from the track centreline. Bridges and tunnels must have a clearance of at least 4,900 mm (16 ft 15⁄16 in) wide and 6,400 mm (20 ft 11+15⁄16 in) high. The structure gauge S_p for passenger platforms allows 4,900 mm (16 ft 15⁄16 in) only above 1,100 mm (3 ft 7+5⁄16 in) (the common platform height) requiring a width of 3,840 mm (12 ft 7+3⁄16 in) below that line.[55] The exceptions shall be double-stacking, minimum overhead wiring height must be 6,500 mm (21 ft 3+7⁄8 in) (for maximum vehicle height of 6,150 mm [20 ft 2+1⁄8 in]) or 6,750 mm [22 ft 1+3⁄4 in] (for maximum vehicle height of 6,400 mm [20 ft 11+15⁄16 in]).

The main platform is defined to have a height of 1,100 mm (43.3 in) at a distance of 1,920 mm (75.6 in) from the center of the track to allow for trains with profile T. Low platforms at a height of 200 mm (7.9 in) may be placed at 1,745 mm (68.7 in) from the center of the track. A medium platform is a variant of the high platform but at a height of 550 mm (21.7 in).[55] The latter matches with the TSI height in Central Europe. In the earlier standard from 1983, the profile T would only be allowed to pass low platforms at 200 mm (7.87 in) while the standard high platform for cargo and passenger platforms would be placed no less than 1,750 mm (68.9 in) from the center of the track.[56] That matches with the T_c, T_pr and the universal 1-T loading gauge.

In Spain, rail cars can be up to 3.44 m (11 ft 3.5 in) with a permitted height of 4.33m (14 ft 2.5 in) and this loading gauge is called iberian loading gauge. It is the standard loading gauge for conventional (iberian gauge) railways in Spain. In Portugal, there are three railway loading gauge standards for conventional (iberian gauge) railways: Gabarit PT b, Gabarit PT b+ and Gabarit C. Gabarit PT b (also called CPb) and Gabarit PT b+ (also called CPb+) allow rail cars to be 3.44 m (11 ft 3.5 in) wide with a permitted height of 4.5 m (14 ft 9 in), although CPb+ has a slightly larger profile area. Gabarit C allows rail cars to be 3.44 m (11 ft 3.5 in) wide with a permitted height of 4.7 m (15 ft 5 in). Gabarit PT b and PT b+ are both used, being PT b+ more common overall. Gabarit PT c is not used. In Lisbon, there is a suburban railway line, the Cascais Line, that follows a fourth non-standard loading gauge.

• gauge = 597 mm (1 ft 11+1⁄2 in)
• width (brakevan mirrors) = 6 feet 10 inches (2.08 m)[57]
• width (brakevan body) = 6 feet 0 inches (1.83 m)
• height = 5 feet 7.5 inches (1.715 m)
• length = (carriage) 36 feet 0 inches (10.97 m)[58]

Builder's photo of Lyn

• gauge = 597 mm (1 ft 11+1⁄2 in)
• Lyn (locomotive) over headstocks
  • length = 23 ft 6 in (7.16 m)
  • width = 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m)
  • height = 8 ft 11 in (2.72 m)
• Passenger
  • length = 39 ft 6 in (12.04 m)
  • width = 6 ft (1.83 m) wide,
  • width over steps = 7 ft 4 in (2.24 m)
  • height = 8 ft 7 in (2.62 m)

Translation of legend:

The Japanese national network operated by Japan Railways Group employs narrow gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in). The maximum allowed width of the rolling stock is 3,000 mm (9 ft 10 in) and maximum height is 4,100 mm (13 ft 5 in); however, a number JR lines were constructed as private railways prior to nationalisation in the early 20th century, and feature loading gauges smaller than the standard. These include the Chūō Main Line west of Takao, the Minobu Line, and the Yosan Main Line west of Kan'onji (3,900 mm or 12 ft 10 in height). Nevertheless, advances in pantograph technology have largely eliminated the need for separate rolling stock in these areas.

There are many private railway companies in Japan and the loading gauge is different for each company.[59]

The South African national network employs 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) gauge. The maximum width of the rolling stock is 3,048 mm (10 ft 0 in) and maximum height is 3,962 mm (13 ft 0 in),[59] which is greater than the normal British loading gauge for standard gauge vehicles.

The railways use 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) gauge. The maximum width of the rolling stock is 2,830 mm (9 ft 3 in) and maximum height is 3,815 mm (12 ft 6+1⁄4 in).[60]

• gauge 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) for the United Kingdom, Sierra Leone
• minimum radius 132 feet (40 m)
• width 7 feet 0 inches (2.13 m) (see Everard Calthrop)
• wagon length freight 25 feet 0 inches (7.62 m) over headstocks
• wagon length passenger 40 feet 0 inches (12.19 m) over headstocks
• tank engine length 29 feet 6 inches (8.99 m) over headstocks