Metre-gauge railways (US: meter-gauge railways) are narrow-gauge railways with track gauge of 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in) or 1 metre.[1]

Metre gauge is used in around 95,000 kilometres (59,000 mi) of tracks around the world.[citation needed] It was used by several European colonial powers including France, Britain and Germany in their colonies. In Europe, large metre-gauge networks remain in use in Switzerland, Spain and many European towns with urban trams, but most metre-gauge local railways in France, Germany and Belgium closed down in the mid-20th century, although some still remain. With the revival of urban rail transport, metre-gauge light metros were built in some cities. The slightly-wider 1,009 mm (3 ft 3+2332 in) gauge is used in Sofia. Another similar gauge is 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm).

Examples of metre-gauge

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Country/territory Railway
Argentina 11,080 km (6,880 mi)

Ferrocarril General Manuel Belgrano

Austria
Bangladesh 1,830 km (1,140 mi), out of which 365 km (227 mi) are dual gauge with 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) gauge
Belgium
Benin 578 km (359 mi)
Bolivia 3,600 km (2,200 mi)
Brazil

23,489 km (14,595 mi)

  • Mostly in cargo railways, including E.F Vitoria-Minas Passenger/Cargo Line and R.R. (operating)
  • Fortaleza Metro (operating)
  • Teresina Metro (operating)
Bulgaria 154 km (96 mi) of 1,009 mm (3 ft 3+2332 in) gauge
Burkina Faso
Burma 3,200 kilometres (2,000 mi) 160 kilometres (99 mi)
Cambodia 612 km (380 mi)
Cameroon 1,104 km (686 mi)
Chile 2,923 km (1,816 mi)
China
Croatia
Czech Republic Like other Sudeten cities, the trams of Liberec used metre gauge in the past. All lines however have been rebuilt to standard gauge.
Democratic Republic of the Congo Several metre gauge railways
Denmark See Metre gauge railways in Denmark and Narrow-gauge railways in Denmark. A few local railways. Only one remains, but regauged to standard gauge.
Egypt
Finland
France Historically used in many local and regional railways, only a few of which remain today.
Germany
Greece The Piraeus, Athens and Peloponnese Railways used to be the largest metre-gauge network in Europe but are now largely abandoned. Only the suburban rail service of Patras, and the Olympia–Katakolo tourist railway still use the network.
Hungary
India Nilgiri Mountain Railway (operating)

Mailani - Nanpara Railway (operating)

Iraq Mesopotamian Railways
Israel Sections of 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in) railways, later converted to 1,050 mm (3 ft 5+1132 in) or 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) gauge
Italy
Ivory Coast
Kenya
Laos A 3.5 km extension of the metre-gauge State Railway of Thailand network across the border into Laos
Latvia Liepāja tramway (operating)
Madagascar 875 km (544 mi). There are two unconnected systems operated by Madarail
Malaysia
Mali

641 km (398 mi) Dakar–Niger Railway

Malta Malta Railway
Morocco Several industrial railways in former Spanish Morocco
New Zealand Wellington Cable Car (operating)
Norway
Pakistan
Poland
Portugal Several mainly mountainous branch lines, mostly abandoned in the 1990s, never fully interconnected — connected to the REFER network by means of shared stations and some dual-gauge stretches. Metro de Mirandela and Vouga line remain in use. Other metric networks include Funchal rack railway (defunct in 1943), Coimbra trams (defunct in 1980), and Sintra trams.
Puerto Rico Full network of Puerto Rican 1000mm railways in 1920: 654 km (406 mi)[2]
Romania
Russia
Senegal Dakar–Niger Railway – 1,287 km (800 mi)
Serbia Belgrade Tram (operating)
Singapore Singapore span of the Keretapi Tanah Melayu (Malayan Railway) for shuttle service.
Slovakia
Spain
Sweden Skansens bergbana (operating)
Switzerland
Tanzania Tanzania Railways Corporation – about 2,600 km (1,600 mi) (break of gauge with 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) TAZARA Railway)
Thailand State Railway of Thailand, 4,346 km (2,700 mi).
Togo 568 km (353 mi).
Tunisia 1,674 km (1,040 mi) used along with standard gauge (471 km (293 mi))
Turkey
Uganda
  • Uganda Railway run by Uganda Railways Corporation. Metre gauge link from Malaba to Kampala city centre (operating, under rehabilitation)
  • Metre gauge link from Malaba to Tororo (operating)
  • Metre gauge link from Tororo - Gulu - Pakwach to Tororo (under rehabilitation)
Ukraine
United Kingdom
United States
Vietnam Vietnam Railways and KunHe Railway

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Raja, K. "Complete information on Railway Gauges". Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  2. ^ «Los ferrocarriles de uso público en Puerto Rico (1870-1990)», Antonio Santamaría García (1994). Revista Complutense de Historia de América XX: pp. 207-228
  3. ^ Contexto histórico e inventario del ferrocarril en Puerto Rico, 1850-1953 - Primera parte: Trasfondo histórico
  4. ^ «Conservando una Romántica Tradición», Dave Deyo, Railroading, Number 43, Second Quarter (1972): pp. 6-18]
  5. ^ Brandon, Andrew. "The Sierra Lumber Company". Pacific Narrow Gauge.
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