Oct 16, 2026, 9:41 AMAnd *of course* 🇵🇹 building a broad gauge high speed line got all the whingeing going
Here’s why re-gauging lines probably makes no sense:
https://jonworth.eu/why-you-probably-should-not-re-gauge-railways-in-europe/
And *were* Portugal to build a 1435mm HSL, then they’re going to need gauge changing trains, and look at Talgo’s mess currently
Oct 16, 2026, 9:44 AMIt’s not that complicated
1) You cannot re-gauge all of 🇪🇸 and 🇵🇹 railways to 1435mm in a cost effective & timely manner, and you should not try
2) So if 🇵🇹 is to build a HSL, you *either* have multiple breaks of gauge nationally, and have to buy Talgo trains, *or* you leave the break of gauge somewhere in 🇪🇸 where fewer of your passengers go (and Renfe doesn’t give a shit about 🇵🇹 anyway)
So 1668mm HSL makes sense
@jon Thanks for the explanation (and answering my earlier question on the other network).
What about building the new line dual gauge, keeping options open for the future ?
Oct 16, 2026, 10:12 AM@jon Isn't it generally a better idea to build a high-speed network disconnected from the normal slow-speed network? Like in Japan, China and - yes - Spain? So different gauge shouldn't be a problem.
Oct 16, 2026, 10:13 AM@deBaer If you have unlimited money, yes. If you don’t, then no. Japan is the only country that ever did it. Even Spain did not do it, because it put gauge changers everywhere.
@jon what was the reasoning behind Spain building HSL on a smaller gauge if most of what they had was 1668? I had vaguely thought broader was better if you wanted high speeds
Oct 16, 2026, 10:26 AM@http_error_418 They built to the European standard, supposedly with the idea of eventually converting a lot of their network. But instead they just brought the gauge change headache into the country instead of having it at the border to France!
@jon so a case of "it would have been fine (if expensive) if they'd finished but it's only half done and it's worse than if they'd left it alone"?
Ye gods it's just like my workplace
Oct 16, 2026, 10:56 AM@http_error_418 Yes, pretty much 😄
Oct 16, 2026, 1:32 PM@jon Troll: but they did re-gauge both countries in the 50s
Orc: But Spain has been laying re-gaugeable track since the late 80’s
(Edited as it seems glitchsoc removed my xml-like tags)