Track gauge conversion

With Umspurung a railway vehicle, the technical process is called, with which a vehicle is moved from one rail network to another, if the track width of the two systems is different. The gauging is carried out either by exchanging the drive or change to the drive while it remains on the vehicle. Most often also have other arrangements for use in the new route network are taken during the procedure. A distinction is Umspurung during operation of the conversion to the long -term use of a vehicle on a different track.

The Umspurung in regular operation is mainly applied to the border between France and Spain, within Spain as well as at the borders of the built according to Russian Standard Parts railways. There are projects for applied during normal operation Umspurungen in Switzerland and Japan.

• 3.1 Traffic with tracks by Russian Standard Parts 3.1.1 Finland
• 3.1.2 Germany
• 3.1.3 Poland
• 3.1.4 Lithuania
• 3.1.5 Belarus
• 3.1.6 Ukraine
• 3.1.7 China

• 3.2.1 Talgo trains
• 3.2.2 Passenger trains usually from vehicles
• 3.2.3 freight
• 3.2.4 transport within Spain

Technology

Gauge changeover

A Umspuranlage is a fixed installation, with the gauge of rail vehicles can be changed. In conventional gauge changeover the wheelsets or bogies of the vehicles to be replaced. New and technically complex are processes in which the distance between the wheel disc is adapted to the network to be traveled. It requires special wheel sets or Einzelradlaufwerke must be present. Previously, this technique could be used only for vehicles with non-driven axles, since 2000 it is also available for traction vehicles.

Conventional gauge changeover

According to the conventional method, the bogies are released from the car body, and the latter is raised with hydraulic jacks to about 1.5 m. With a spill conditioning the bogies of the old track will be pulled out from under the vehicle and those drawn for the new track under the car. The bogies are connected in this process with on the framework set brackets together so that the exchange of the bogies can be done in one operation of the capstan winch. After the new bogies positioned beneath the carriage, the carriage body will be lowered again and the bogie connected to the car body.

In freight car bogies or wheelsets can be changed. When changing the wheel sets the brake pads need to be changed accordingly. The method is applied on the Spanish- French border, even with bogie wagons. It have adjustable brake triangles and a significantly greater distance between the side frames for alternating traffic with Spain and Portugal approved car.

On the western border of the Russian broad gauge network for coaches and the couplings are also exchanged. Russian freight cars that can not be fitted with side buffers because of the design of the floor frame are transported in standard gauge network with dome car.

The Umspuranlage is usually housed in a hall. At the transition between the Western European standard gauge network and the Russian broad gauge has the mixed gauge track on which the bogie change is made, additional rails on the inside of flying the Regelspurradsätze to the back surfaces. At the Franco-Spanish transitions is possible because of the greater difference to the Iberian broad gauge a simple four -rail track.

• Umspuranlage in Brest ( Belarus ) station on the Polish border

Replacement of bogies, the picture shows the standard gauge bogies GP200

Replacing the clutch

Links from the wheel the ropes of the spill facility can be seen, the right guide rail for the Regelspurradsätze

Automatic gauge changeover

The automatic gauge changeover can only be used by vehicles that have specially adapted to the system running gear. The lane change is completed during the slow ride through the plant. When driving the system with about 15 km / h, opened by actuating the unlocking of the drive rails so that the wheel disks of guide rails can be adjusted to the new track. It is necessary to distinguish whether the wheels are released or charged during the gauging process.

Umspurung relieved with wheels

For used in Spain for passenger trains Talgo and CAF systems of the vehicles are carried by side-mounted slide rails during Umspurvorgangs, so that the wheels are relieved during the Umspurvorgangs and can be moved laterally by special guides. The wheels are held by bolts in the position to be taken while of traveling from one unlocking rail down and return at the end of the lane change by spring force into the locking position. The Talgo system each wheel disc mounted on a single stub shaft, which is displaced together with its bearings. At system CAF wheel disks are moved to the axes. Both systems are in operational use in Spain.

The Talgo system is one of the systems used for the longest time. 1969 3 million Umspurvorgänge have been carried out without causing failures have occurred. Only Ice may cause faults that can jam the train in the Umspuranlage.

In Spain, automatic gauge changeover in operation,. Both the Talgo system, as can also work with the system CAF The plants are equipped with two track frames, with the different for the two systems auxiliary equipment. Prior to the passage of a train of matching the system track panel is folded down or moved laterally in position.

In Switzerland, a system was developed for use on the Gold Line from Prose, in which narrow gauge passenger coaches can be transferred to standard gauge tracks with the bogies EV09. The Umspuranlage shifts the two halves of the longitudinally split bogie frame against each other. In addition to changing the track width and the height of the support of the superstructure changed to the entrances will suit the different platform heights in the two networks.

In Japan, a system is being tested for automatic gauge changing on passenger trains.

Umspurung with weight on wheels

Systems have been developed for freight that allow it to switch tracks car with weight on wheels. Thus, the wheels do not aufklettern on the rails during the adjustment of the gauge, the gauge may be changed only slowly in these systems, so that the Umspuranlage is much longer than in systems for balanced wheels.

The PKP and the DB AG have developed a unified Umspurtechnik, on both wheel sets the type SUW -2000 ( PKP) as well as the type DB AG / Rafil V can be automatically umgespurt. Here, the wheel discs are unlocked on the rigid axle, moved into the respective end position and then locked again. This process may, depending on the type of Umspuranlage in both wheel discs of a wheelset occur simultaneously (symmetrical system ) or firstly at the wheel discs one and then made ​​the other side ( asymmetric unit). Asymmetric systems require a longer distance for the Umspurung as symmetric systems. The equipment for the systems SUW -2000 and DB AG / Rafil V are longer than the Talgo gauge changeover system, since the wheel discs are moved under load and therefore the ratio of track change has to be smaller to Umspurstrecke.

Freight traffic

Rail freight is no umspurbaren vehicles are often used. Instead, the goods are often transhipped, what is today associated with containers or swap trays with relatively little effort.

Alternatively, routes with other gauges be extended to areas with high traffic, where this is not the usual gauge of the majority of the existing lines. Here are also often multi-rail tracks used.

For the transport of individual vehicles and carts and dollies can be used. These cars are loaded onto a track car, or drives the other gauge.

Locomotives

Locomotives and railcars can be umgespurt principle too, but that happens because of the great expense usually not during the operation, but in the context of conversion work in workshops. The locomotives thus remain during their operational use in the network of their ancestral gauge. Exceptions are the vehicles with driven lane change bogies of types Talgo and CAF.

Some locomotives (and other vehicle) types are structurally equipped to run on different gauges. These include the diesel locomotives M62 LTS, the Renfe series 252 and 449, many locomotives, railcars and carriages of the Tunisian State Railways and the type locomotives Gmeinder D 75 BB -SE. In such vehicles, the gauging requires only the replacement of parts, but no cutting and welding work. Relief is in Europe that train and shock device and brake in the control track and Iberian and Eastern European - Russian broad gauge network have almost identical dimensions. Examples of umspurbar designed steam locomotives were the EAR Garrats the number 59, the Latvian series Bt / Pt and Ct / Rt and built for the Warsaw - Vienna railway Russian machinery SW series. They corresponded to the Central European loading gauge, for Umspuren you had only the Wheelspiders of the axle shafts and as a consequence extort the tire and drive or coupling pin and turn and adjust the position of the brake pads and obstacle deflector.

Deep Cross is the gauging of vehicles that were not designed for this. The cost rises sharply with the track width difference. Relatively easy was the gauging of captured by German troops in World War II broad gauge wagons, tank wagons which were particularly sought. After the war, captured or confiscated as reparations German vehicles on Russian broad gauge were placed on the other. Examples are steam locomotives of the German class 52, railcars of the Berlin S- and U -Bahn and Ellok the series E 44 and E 94 Because of the width of the bogie frame and the lack of installation space, the last two series do not lend for the conversion to the Russian broad gauge and the central buffer coupling of the type SA3. This resulted in severe damage. From 1958 to 1960 about 1500 machines of the SZD- FD series were delivered to China and there converted to standard gauge.

Umspurung by bogie exchange

The PKP possesses shunting, which can be equipped with both regular as well as broad-gauge bogies. They are used at the Polish eastern border and prepared depending on the volume of goods to be used on the appropriate route network.

The RENFE has with the series 252 universal electric locomotives, standard gauge as can be used in broad gauge network, both in the. The trains running in standard-gauge high-speed rail locomotives of this series are both prior express trains from Talgo, as used on the route from the French border before the freight trains to Barcelona. Some of the locomotives of this series were umgespurt several times.

With the construction of the first standard-gauge high-speed line similar to the French TGV trainsets of the 100 series were procured. One of the trains was delivered as the 101 series with broad gauge bogies and used on the route along the Mediterranean between Barcelona and Valencia. With the increasing demand for standard-gauge high-speed trains by 2009 were re- equipped with standard-gauge bogies and incorporated into the 100 series.

The CP possessed the Series 9020 on umspurbare locomotives.

Power units with Talgo bogies

The end of the 1960s developed by Talgo technology allows Umspuren of vehicles while driving slowly through an appropriately furnished Umspuranlage. Until 2000, this technique was used only for non-driving cars, which were covered with locomotives that remained in the power of their ancestral gauge. In 2000, the Talgo XXI was introduced, which is considered the first umspurbares while driving train. Followed in 2005 with travca L 9202 the prototype of a multi-system electric locomotive. This was followed with the power heads for the high-speed trains of RENFE series 130, the first series-built vehicles, which traveled operationally gauge changeover.

When umspurbaren Talgo drive each wheel is firmly connected with its large gear and mounted slides sideways in the bogie. On the countershaft sprocket sitting, which always stand by their width with the big gears in mesh, regardless of the gauge position. The sliders and Entriegelungsorgane for the gauge adjustment correspond to those of the middle car.

Rolling stock on other systems

In Spain, in addition to the system Talgo also the CAF system is used, but that is only installed in the drive trains of RENFE Class 120 and two railcars of series 594. The Japanese Kikan Kahen Densha has driven axles, which can also be changed with an automatic Umspuranlage between Cape gauge and standard gauge.

Technical requirements for vehicles Umspurbare

Umspurbare vehicles must comply with the conditions in both networks, such as when Fahrzeugumgrenzungsprofil, clutches, brake equipment and the axle load and linear load. This is the more complicated, the more the standards of the networks involved differ from each other and the greater the difference between the gauges. For vehicles that will operate on the European regulation and the Iberian and CIS broad gauge network, it is still relatively easy through the standardization of the rules of the Technical Unit based on the railways. Switches the systems to very from each other, as in the future between MOB and Simmentalbahn, then the vehicles are not freely usable in each foreign network.

Standardization

The International Union of Railways ( UIC) and the Organization for Cooperation of Railways ( OSShD ) established a joint working group " Automated lane change systems " ( JWG AGCS ) in November 2011. The goal is the normalization for automatic lane-changing systems between Russian broad gauge, standard gauge of European and Iberian broad gauge, both for freight and for passenger traffic.

Applications

Traffic with passes Russian Standard Parts

The railways in the countries of the former Soviet Union, Mongolia and Finland are built according to Russian Standards and have a track gauge of 1520 mm. Umspurungen are needed to access the rail network of the rest of Europe, as well as to continue the trip to China.

Finland

Cars that pass from Western European to the Finnish network via ferry are raised in a Umspuranlage in the port of Turku and replaced the bogies or single axes. In Tornio there is on the railway line floor - Haparanda also an asymmetric Umspuranlage, which is hardly ever used. This is the only track connection between the Finnish and Swedish network.

Germany

In Mukran Ferry Sassnitz in the northeast of Rügen is a Umspuranlage - exclusively for freight - change gauges in the car before they are transported by ferry to Klaipeda to continue on the broad gauge lines of the CIS. This is done by replacing the bogies. It is the only such facility in Germany.

Poland

Umspurungen are needed in relations with Lithuania, Belarus and Ukraine. An automatic system for the SUW 2000 system is located on the border with Ukraine in Przemysl.

Lithuania

An asymmetric system for wheel sets of types SUW -2000 and DB AG / Rafil V is used in the Lithuanian railway station Mockava. A passenger train with SUW -2000 -axis between Warsaw and Vilnius was umgespurt it to the setting of the connection.

Belarus

The most important for journeys from Europe to the broad gauge network of the CIS gauge changeover station is Brest, where the gauging of cars is made in appropriately equipped halls. Besides the wheelsets also the couplings to be replaced, at platoon level only at the end cars.

Ukraine

Axle changing stations for passenger services are in Jagodin and Chop.

China

When dealing with China, the gauging of the trains will take place at the borders to Kazakhstan in Dostyk and Korgas, to Mongolia in Eren Hot and border interfaces of transmandschurischen railway in Zabaikalsk and Ussurijsk.

The railways in China and Korea use central buffer couplings type Janney at a height of 790 mm ​​above the running surface, which were introduced there during the Japanese invasion in World War II. To compensate for the height difference a part of the transition enabled cars with height adjustable coupler pocket are equipped.

Spain

Talgo trains

Installations for vehicles with Talgo axes were built in PortBou Irun on the Spanish- French border for the Talgo RD ( rodadura desplazable ) in 1969 and were used by the Catalán Talgo between Barcelona and Geneva, and from the hotel trains to Paris, Zurich and Milan. The connections to Zurich and Milan, were set in 2012, the connection to Paris follows the end of 2013.

Passenger trains usually from vehicles

Until the 1994 timetable change wrong trains, which were formed from ordinary bogie wagons, from France to Spain and Portugal. The last trains were the 310/313 » Sud- expression " from Paris Austerlitz to Lisbon Santa Apolonia with coaches to Porto, the 1991-1993, 300/301 " Puerta del Sol " in Madrid Chamartín ( with coaches to and from Moscow which had to be umgespurt it twice) and the coaches Paris- Algeciras. The lane change procedure was similar to that at the transitions to the Russian broad gauge network, but the jacks were moved to position them at the lifting points of the car can. Thus, different types of wagon were treatable and the carriage trains were raised in the coupled state. At least with the 300/301 only sleeping, lying and car carriers were umgespurt while the passengers had to change trains in the seat carriage.

The Umspuranlage for coaches in Hendaye has since been canceled. Your position at the end of the broad gauge platform tracks can still be seen.

Freight traffic

For freight transport between France and Spain, there are in Hendaye / Irun and Cerbère / Portbou axle changing stations, where the axes are exchanged - even on the bogie wagons.

Transport within Spain

Construction of the standard gauge AVE routes came since 1992 plants for the transition from the Spanish broad gauge network added to the new lines in Madrid, Córdoba, Zaragoza, Lleida, Seville, Antequera - Santa Ana and near Tarragona. These systems can be used by both vehicles after the Talgo system as well as from those according to the CAF system. Over five hundred trains are umgespurt Daily today.

Japan

In Japan umspurbare multiple units for gauges 1067 mm and 1435 mm in development. 1998 was built the first Kikan Kahen Densha ( " train with changeable track width " ) called test train. This had driven axles, which could be automatically umgespurt. For experimental purposes, two different types of bogies were used. In 2006, he was replaced by a second based on the Shinkansen Series E3 test train.

After the opening of the Shinkansen traffic through the Seikan Tunnel in 2015, the freight is 1067 mm car must be maintained on this route anyway. To this end, the concept Torein on Torein is developed ( train to train ). There are covered trolley 1435 mm are used, which transport the car is 1067 mm track gauge through the tunnel.

Kikan Kahen Densha 2 series

Torein on Torein mockup

Switzerland

In addition to the standard gauge rail network, there are in Switzerland, especially in the Alps many narrow gauge railways. Especially for the Golden Pass Line umspurbare the bogie EV09 was developed for gauges 1000 mm and 1435 mm. A special feature of the bogie geometry is changed in height when Umspuren, making the entry level of the carriage is adapted to the different platform heights in narrow gauge and standard gauge network. In 2010, a panorama car was equipped with the prototypes of the new bogies and extensively tested. A provisional Umspuranlage was built in Montreux. In 2016, the technology can be used in scheduled traffic. The Umspuranlage will be set up in two Simmen station and the trains are to be umgespurt at slow speed when entering and exiting the station. The corresponding trains will run as closed units.