Operating on standard gauge gives you a distinct advantage of being able to
expand the system easily using existing lines, or perhaps operate other
equipment across the new line, or perhaps convert the new line to other
technologies quickly.
BART in San Francisco, California was built using a broad gauge. Today, that
decision prevents them from expanding the system cheaply and easily. People
have been trying to figure out why a broad gauge was chosen. There are
suggestions that the broad gauge would give better resistance to high winds
on elevated portions, but the differences are very tiny. As best anybody can
figure out, the decision to use broad gauge resulted simply from the desire
to create something "new" and "modern" (this was in the late 1960s and early
1970s) rather than relying on "old" train technology. (There are other
aspects of BART's design that reflect this philosophy as well.)
--------------
Colin R. Leech
All opinions personal
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http://www.octranspo.com
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Prof S L Dhingra [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Saturday, July 31, 1999 3:38 AM
> To: UTSG
> Subject: MRTS Thane
[...]
> What one will know
> like to know the justification for Broad Gauge (5 ft 6 in) vs Standard
> Gauge ( 4 ft 8 1/2 in).
[...]
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