Swiss variable gauge train switches from 1 000 mm to 1 435 mm gauge

[SocialistDistancing]

I never knew that such capabilities existed.

[futurepilot]

That was absolutely crazy how those bogies swallowed with that speed

[silberpfeil]

This is so interesting, not only does it change Gauge, but also it changes the entire height of the Train. The Wheels end up much lower at the End

[ABCantonese]

Japan must be taking notes now, especially JR Kyushu

[antronx]

I like how clean the undercarriage is. Must be a test car.

[bwabbel]

if you're wondering why we have different gauges: it's because the 1m gauge allows for tighter radii which helps with building tracks in the mountains. the narrow gauge is mainly used in Grisons (far eastern part of Switzerland) by the RhB railway company

[highonpcbs]

And to think in the 20th century they had to put an entire different carriage under the wagons to convert between rails

[TheosTrainsWalesOfficial]

Fam! That's so f**king cool! I know that Spain has variable gauge trains that can switch between standard gauge and Iberian gauge, but actually seeing this unfold is MIND-BLOWING.

[leokimvideo]

There are many who say the wheels flanges do nothing. Here is a great example where the flanges are all important.

[AXE]

They were doing this in Britain in the 19th century when moving from seven foot broadgauge to standard gauge and vice versa. Admittedly, the technique was slightly different in that it involved all the passengers getting off the train, along with their luggage, traipsing across a platform and getting on another train.

[Lukehmcc]

This is extremely cool and seems like a maintenance nightmare lol

[sleepyfox]

We definitely need these in Australia. Limited interstate rail services here because each state uses a different rail gauge.

[nicoferguson]

For the last bit, it almost looked like a Transformer in action

[lmlmd]

Australia: *strokes chin* hmmmm.... interesting. Very, interesting.

It's a great piece of engineering, I'd love to work on a project like this

[mbcommandnerd]

I like how the track is what actually does the work here! When the train hits that special track with the extra-high ties, the wheels raise up, and two metal plungers extend from those silver boxes in the middle. And a few seconds later, those plungers slip into special slots in the rails, which push the wheels apart as the train continues to move. Once they are fully pushed out, the wheels go back down and the plungers retract. And now the train is on the higher gauge track! This whole process then reverses when the train comes back in the other direction, and the wheels push themselves back together.

Edit: That whole process happens in EIGHT SECONDS. The Swiss aren’t just good for watches and utility knives…they make GENIUS stuff like this, too!

[BaileyChap]

That looks kinda expensive to maintain, that said, the advantages of this system could be worth that cost.

[knightwolf]

Wait, whaaaat??? I'm flabbergasted! AWESOME!! I thought I knew the Swiss railways so well...

[Ksandur]

The Talgo cars on the "Stritz" service from Berlin to Moscow used to do this too! Cutting the border crossing time by HOURS!

[phildur]

It's been used since the 70 at the border between Spain and France.
The night train comming from one country was pushed through such an installation, and then was pulled by a loc on the other side.
The locs did not change gauge.
It was at the beginning restricted to night trains equiped with specific bogies with variable gauge axles.
Then Talgo buildt some specific trains for trafic between lands using 1.6 and 1.4 gauges
Nowadays Spain has already build high speed lines with "continental UIC" gauge.
Direct High Speed Trains run now over the border without any stop and gauge adjustment.
At least southbound to Barcelona