A gauging strategy for Great Britain

Abstract

The paper outlines the historical development and issues which affect railway vehicle gauging on the Great Britain rail network and describes the circumstances which make such a strategy viable now. From this, the potential benefits for passengers and freight operations of a gauging strategy are described. An overview of the work undertaken to develop the strategy is provided, which includes the development of a better understanding of the rail network and its interaction with vehicles. The concepts of analysis of the whole network to define profiles for interoperable and intercity vehicles are described and the issues related to double deck trains are discussed. The development of a core network of intermodal freight cleared routes and the need for an enhanced freight gauge classification system are discussed. Preliminary benefits associated with a strategy are shown, along with a description decision support tool for project evaluation. The strands are brought together to describe the main components of the strategy and, finally, the plans for the implementation of the strategy are outlined.