Well Car - Other Countries

Other Countries

• Australia - double stack trains operate between Perth, Adelaide, Darwin and Parkes, NSW 6.5 m (21 ft) clearances.
• India - Mundra Port operates double stack diesel trains on 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) gauge using flatcars. Experiments for double stacking under 25 kV AC overhead lines have begun because of funds given by Japan.
• China - using double stacked container trains under 25 kV AC overhead lines. Initially this was restricted to a standard ISO 8′6″ container and a reduced size 8′0″ container - even after increasing the height of the overhead wire for allowing two standard ISO containers it is not possible to use a stack of two 9′6″ hi-cube containers on those line under electrification.
• Great Britain - The small structure gauges and consequently small loading gauges on the British Railways mean that double stacking is not possible and that well cars are required to be able to transport 9 ft 6 in (2.9 m) high intermodal containers on routes where the loading gauge is W9 or smaller.
• Netherlands - The freight-only Betuweroute has been physically prepared for double-stack container transport, but the line ends at the German border, and the connecting German railway line has not been converted yet. Also the electrification with 25 kV AC overhead causes concerns, similar to the Chinese situation. The remainder of the Dutch network is not suited for double-stack container transport.
• Panama - In 2001 new tracks were laid for the Panama Canal Railway, parallel to the canal. It allows for double-stack trains. The bottom of an existing tunnel was dug out to accommodate the extra height.