What is the possibility of a rail link to South-East Asia and Singapore?

19-07-2019

The idea of a rail link to Singapore comes up every so often. Myanmar railway lines are meter-gauge. So are the railways in Thailand and Malaysia. So the value of such a link for freight transportation is greatly diminished by the need for transshipment at some point to get to the main BG network in India. Furthermore, in Burma the southern section of the railway network is not connected to the northern one, there being a gap at Moulmein, so that a bridge would have to be converted, or a ferry system used from Martaban. This problem turns up with connections from Bangladesh to the branches going to Mandalay; otherwise, connecting with lines going to Pathein pose other problems as that is

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When can trains be run without brake vans or without guards?
July 17, 2019

Normally, all trains are required to have a brake van or guard's van and a guard on board. However, in a few cases the brake van and the services of the guard can be dispensed with, especially in sections where block sections are completely track-circuited, which reduces the possibility of undetected train parting. Brake vans can also be dispensed

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How are trains run in the fog?
July 17, 2019

Due to restricted visibility in thick fog which pervades northern India in particular during the winter months, trains are known to get delayed and schedules get thrown haywire. Obviously, these delays have their genesis in the fact that the drivers can't see the signals at sufficient distance and have to reduce speeds when approaching signals, so

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How are trains run when tracks are flooded?
July 17, 2019

Flooding is very dangerous to the permanent way. The earthworks become unstable, ballast can be washed away, and the forces of the water by its movement, buoyancy, and scouring action can seriously weaken and move the track so that it is no longer stable and secure enough to support the weight of a train reliably. Hence, great care is taken when

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How are communications or signals failures handled?
July 17, 2019

In case of signalling equipment or block equipment failure (e.g., power failure, floods), if communications can be established between adjacent stations (by telephone on the public network or control telephones of the railway network, or in the past, by telegraph or bell code), paper line clear tickets may be issued to trains to proceed. Such

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What are blocks? Line blocks, power blocks, etc.?
July 17, 2019

A block is a bar on through traffic entering a particular section of track. It may affect only certain kinds of traffic, or may close the tracks to all trains; it may affect one track of a double line or multiple line, or may affect all tracks up and down. A block is used when work of a more involved nature is undertaken and speed restrictions are

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What are speed restrictions and engineering restrictions?
July 17, 2019

These are various kinds of speed limits below the normal sanctioned speed limit for the route section in question, imposed in stretches of track where unsafe conditions exist because of track damage, ongoing repair work to track or OHE, accidents, or unusual circumstances in the construction of the permanent way (see above). A temporary

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