New French trains too wide for platforms?

I saw this on CBS News tonight.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/france-facing-68m-bill-to-make-new-trains-fit-into-stations/

The French obviously know nothing about the 'European Loading Gauge' that they use on their SCNF system :hehe:

The loading gauge used here in Britain is more restricted in height and width than the gauge as used in continental Europe, so the French really have no excuse in not already knowing the width of their station platforms and going ahead regardless building new trains wider than their permitted gauge contraints.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loading_gauge

This reminds me of our MBTA commuter and transit system. When they ordered some new BREDA LRVs (trams) for the Green Line in Boston, they didn't take into account the really, really tight curves in the tunnels. The new LRVs were jumping the tracks and had to be retrofitted with new bogies in order to run on the system.

John

Notice that it involves the platforms build before 1930.

Obviously modern trains have to be made wider to cope with the more obese people there are nowadays!

teddytoot said:

Obviously modern trains have to be made wider to cope with the more obese people there are nowadays!

Click to expand...

Without saying too much... We go whale watching where I live. The boat captains even guarantee seeing a whale!

John