MISC | How far can you travel by standard gauge rail?

CharlieP · February 25th, 2008, 01:40 PM

Imagine you have a vehicle with steel wheels 1435mm apart, which can travel wherever it likes without worrying about track access, signalling etc. What's the longest journey you can take (in terms of linear distance between start and end points - no going round and round in loops!)?

urbanfan89 · February 25th, 2008, 06:34 PM

Probably between the southern tip of Mexico and one of the endpoints in northern Quebec.

Augusto · February 25th, 2008, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by urbanfan89

Probably between the southern tip of Mexico and one of the endpoints in northern Quebec.

When the Istanbul tunnel will be completed: from Scotland to Bam (Iran)?

Yardmaster · March 2nd, 2008, 05:13 PM

you can do a pretty decent trip here from Perth (or Kwinana) Western Australia ... via Tarcoola, South Australia, to Darwin, Northern Territory, or through Port Augusta & Sydney to Brisbane, Queensland.

Certainly not the lomgest SG route in the world, but almost 5,000 km, without crossing a national border: I could add a couple of thousand km, but they're narrow gauge (3' 6") so you'll have to resize your axles.

eomer · March 6th, 2008, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Augusto

When the Istanbul tunnel will be completed: from Scotland to Bam (Iran)?

Will Scotland - Istambul be longer than Sevilla - Istambul ?
In 2009, it will be possible to cross Spain from Figueras to Sevilla.

virgule82 · March 7th, 2008, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eomer

Will Scotland - Istambul be longer than Sevilla - Istambul ?
In 2009, it will be possible to cross Spain from Figueras to Sevilla.

Istanbul-Northern Norway is longer than either of those.

Tagnuzlsx · June 12th, 2009, 12:31 AM

The longest current Standard gauge journey you could make in Europe is from Narvik to Kiato in Greece. This is 5905km.

la bestia kuit · March 4th, 2008, 07:27 PM

In Argentina, 1.200 Kms, from Buenos Aires City yo Posadas City, in the border to Paraguay

Departing from Federico Lacroze Station

crossing the "zarate - brazo largo" bridge over the Parana River

virgule82 · March 5th, 2008, 08:57 AM

If you include the Istanbul tunnel, then Narvik, Norway to Bam, Iran should be almost 7000 km. (rough estimating using google earth). Not sure if anywhere can beat that.

Messi · March 5th, 2008, 09:36 AM

The Marmaray tunnel in Istanbul is still u/c, so we'll have to wait some years.

Rebasepoiss · March 5th, 2008, 04:17 PM

0km by standard gauge, but by broad gauge aroung 8000km or more.(Tallinn-Vladivostok)

JoKo65 · June 12th, 2009, 02:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rebasepoiss

0km by standard gauge, but by broad gauge aroung 8000km or more.(Tallinn-Vladivostok)

That's it.
Standard gauge is interesting for long distance travel in America, but for european long distances broad gauge is more interesting.

mgk920 · June 13th, 2009, 05:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rebasepoiss

0km by standard gauge, but by broad gauge aroung 8000km or more.(Tallinn-Vladivostok)

Wouldn't that broad-gauge network extend to the Finland-Sweden border at Palovaara, Sweden/Tornea, Finland or, more likely, the Russian Naval base area at Severomorsk or even more likely Nikel, near the northern Norwegian border?

Mike

jkjkjk · March 5th, 2008, 11:10 PM

using route Thurso - Zürich - Beograd - Athens is 4726 km

bretton888 · June 12th, 2009, 01:24 AM

How about VIA rail? 6000 miles from Vancouver to Halifax. I love train trips, but that one would need a sleeper and lots of time off work.

urbanfan89 · June 12th, 2009, 09:41 AM

Now if only there were a standard gauge track between China and Iran, it would be possible to travel from Hanoi all the way to Europe...

***keber*** · June 12th, 2009, 02:14 PM

Not from Hanoi, there is no standard gauge there.

yaohua2000 · June 12th, 2009, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keber

Not from Hanoi, there is no standard gauge there.

But dual gauge is also count in right?

mgk920 · June 12th, 2009, 10:01 PM

In North America, theoretically, it would be between Mérida, Yucatan, Mexico and Fort Nelson, British Columbia, Canada. I am not sure of the total distance involved.

Note, there is a line to Deese Lake, BC that was partially graded, but it was never finished. Also, the standard-gauge/AAR 'Type E' coupler Alaska Railroad is isolated from the rest of North America railroad network and interchanges with it using a carfloat barge service between Whittier, AK and Seattle, WA (and maybe another port or two).

If a Bering Strait railroad tunnel is ever developed, it would likely connect to the railroad network in North America via that uncompleted Deese Lake line.

Mike

Tagnuzlsx · June 13th, 2009, 12:36 AM

"How about VIA rail? 6000 miles from Vancouver to Halifax. I love train trips, but that one would need a sleeper and lots of time off work."

That can't be right, the Trans Siberian railway is less than 6000 miles long.

When the Marmaray tunnel is opened, it will be possible to go from Narvik to Umm Qasr in Iraq via standard gauge. This will be approximately 8000km.

"Now if only there were a standard gauge track between China and Iran, it would be possible to travel from Hanoi all the way to Europe..."

They need to build a railway around Lake Van too.

February 25th, 2008, 01:40 PM	#1
CharlieP Prepare to die. Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Wakefield, Little Satan Posts: 20,748 Likes (Received): 236	MISC \| How far can you travel by standard gauge rail? Imagine you have a vehicle with steel wheels 1435mm apart, which can travel wherever it likes without worrying about track access, signalling etc. What's the longest journey you can take (in terms of linear distance between start and end points - no going round and round in loops!)? __________________ This is my signature. There are many like it, but this one is mine.

March 4th, 2008, 07:27 PM	#8
la bestia kuit De acá Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Buenos Aires Posts: 7,406 Likes (Received): 72	In Argentina, 1.200 Kms, from Buenos Aires City yo Posadas City, in the border to Paraguay Departing from Federico Lacroze Station crossing the "zarate - brazo largo" bridge over the Parana River __________________ ...Divididos desde siempre, desde el aula hasta el bar...

June 12th, 2009, 01:24 AM	#15
bretton888 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 2 Likes (Received): 0	Don't forget Canada How about VIA rail? 6000 miles from Vancouver to Halifax. I love train trips, but that one would need a sleeper and lots of time off work.

June 13th, 2009, 12:36 AM	#20
Tagnuzlsx Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 55 Likes (Received): 0	"How about VIA rail? 6000 miles from Vancouver to Halifax. I love train trips, but that one would need a sleeper and lots of time off work." That can't be right, the Trans Siberian railway is less than 6000 miles long. When the Marmaray tunnel is opened, it will be possible to go from Narvik to Umm Qasr in Iraq via standard gauge. This will be approximately 8000km. "Now if only there were a standard gauge track between China and Iran, it would be possible to travel from Hanoi all the way to Europe..." They need to build a railway around Lake Van too. Last edited by Tagnuzlsx; June 13th, 2009 at 12:45 AM.

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February 25th, 2008, 06:34 PM	#2
urbanfan89 Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 1,470 Likes (Received): 3	Probably between the southern tip of Mexico and one of the endpoints in northern Quebec.

March 2nd, 2008, 05:13 PM	#4
Yardmaster Registered Melbourne Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Melbourne Posts: 3,847 Likes (Received): 46	you can do a pretty decent trip here from Perth (or Kwinana) Western Australia ... via Tarcoola, South Australia, to Darwin, Northern Territory, or through Port Augusta & Sydney to Brisbane, Queensland. Certainly not the lomgest SG route in the world, but almost 5,000 km, without crossing a national border: I could add a couple of thousand km, but they're narrow gauge (3' 6") so you'll have to resize your axles.

June 12th, 2009, 12:31 AM	#7
Tagnuzlsx Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 55 Likes (Received): 0	The longest current Standard gauge journey you could make in Europe is from Narvik to Kiato in Greece. This is 5905km.

March 5th, 2008, 08:57 AM	#9
virgule82 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Norway Posts: 173 Likes (Received): 0	If you include the Istanbul tunnel, then Narvik, Norway to Bam, Iran should be almost 7000 km. (rough estimating using google earth). Not sure if anywhere can beat that.

March 5th, 2008, 09:36 AM	#10
Messi Tinerci Gençlik Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Istanbul Posts: 8,413 Likes (Received): 275	The Marmaray tunnel in Istanbul is still u/c, so we'll have to wait some years.

March 5th, 2008, 04:17 PM	#11
Rebasepoiss Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tartu / Tallinn Posts: 3,490 Likes (Received): 59	0km by standard gauge, but by broad gauge aroung 8000km or more.(Tallinn-Vladivostok)

March 5th, 2008, 11:10 PM	#14
jkjkjk Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 80 Likes (Received): 0	using route Thurso - Zürich - Beograd - Athens is 4726 km

June 12th, 2009, 09:41 AM	#16
urbanfan89 Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 1,470 Likes (Received): 3	Now if only there were a standard gauge track between China and Iran, it would be possible to travel from Hanoi all the way to Europe...

June 12th, 2009, 02:14 PM	#17
*keber* Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Slovenia Posts: 8,014 Likes (Received): 120	Not from Hanoi, there is no standard gauge there.

June 12th, 2009, 10:01 PM	#19
mgk920 Nonhyphenated-American Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Appleton, WI USA Posts: 2,585 Likes (Received): 8	In North America, theoretically, it would be between Mérida, Yucatan, Mexico and Fort Nelson, British Columbia, Canada. I am not sure of the total distance involved. Note, there is a line to Deese Lake, BC that was partially graded, but it was never finished. Also, the standard-gauge/AAR 'Type E' coupler Alaska Railroad is isolated from the rest of North America railroad network and interchanges with it using a carfloat barge service between Whittier, AK and Seattle, WA (and maybe another port or two). If a Bering Strait railroad tunnel is ever developed, it would likely connect to the railroad network in North America via that uncompleted Deese Lake line. Mike