Editing Interoperability (section)

=== Railways ===
{{anchor| Railways}}

Railways have greater or lesser interoperability depending on conforming to standards of [[Track gauge|gauge]], [[Railway coupling|couplings]], [[brake (railway)|brakes]], [[Railway signal|signalling]], [[loading gauge]], and [[structure gauge]] to mention a few parameters. For passenger rail service, different [[railway platform height]] and [[platform gap|width clearance]] standards may also affect interoperability.{{cn|date=June 2023}}

North American freight and intercity passenger railroads are highly interoperable, but systems in Europe, Asia, Africa, Central and South America, and Australia are much less so. The parameter most difficult to overcome (at reasonable cost) is incompatibility of gauge, though [[variable gauge]] axle systems are increasingly used.{{cn|date=June 2023}}