Editing Loading gauge (section)

====European standards====
[[File:Lademass EBO.png|thumb|Railway clearance G1 and G2 (Germany)]]
In the [[European Union]], the UIC directives were supplanted by [[ERA Technical Specifications for Interoperability]] (TSI) of European Union in 2002, which has defined a number of recommendations to harmonize the train systems. The TSI Rolling Stock (2002/735/EC) has taken over the UIC Gauges definitions defining Kinematic Gauges with a reference profile such that Gauges GA and GB have a height of {{convert|4.35|m|ftin|abbr=on}} (they differ in shape) with Gauge GC rising to {{convert|4.70|m|ftin|abbr=on}} allowing for a width of {{convert|3.08|m|ftin|abbr=on}} of the flat roof.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2002/735/oj/eng|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151019001730/http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX:32002D0735|url-status=dead|title=EUR-Lex - 32002D0735 - EN - EUR-Lex|archive-date=19 October 2015}}</ref> All cars must fall within an envelope of {{convert|3.15|m|ftin|abbr=on}} wide on a {{convert|250|m|ch ft|sigfig=3|lk=on|abbr=on}} radius curve. The [[TGV]]s, which are {{convert|2.9|m|ftin|abbr=on}} wide, fall within this limit.

The designation of a GB+ loading gauge refers to the plan to create a pan-European freight network for [[Intermodal container|ISO containers]] and trailers with loaded ISO containers. These container trains (''[[Piggyback (transportation)#Rail|piggy-back]] trains'') fit into the B envelope with a flat top so that only minor changes are required for the widespread structures built to loading gauge B on continental Europe. A few structures on the British Isles were extended to fit with GB+ as well, where the first lines to be rebuilt start at the [[Channel Tunnel]].<ref name=MS>{{Cite web |url=http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/gansg/2-track/02track3.htm |title=Track Gauge & Loading Gauge |author=Mike Smith |year=2003 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090812052709/http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/gansg/2-track/02track3.htm |archive-date=12 August 2009 |access-date=18 May 2009 }}</ref>

Owing to their historical legacies, many member states' railways do not conform to the TSI specification. For example, [[#Great Britain|Britain]]'s role at the forefront of railway development in the 19th century has condemned it to the small [[Structure gauge|infrastructure dimensions]] of that era. Conversely, the {{nobold|loading gauge}}s of countries that were satellites of the former Soviet Union are much larger than the TSI specification. Other than for GB+, they are not likely to be retrofitted, given the enormous cost and disruption that would be entailed.{{Citation needed|date=May 2022}}

{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2" | Loading gauge
! colspan="2" | Static reference profile
! colspan="2" | Kinematic reference profile
! rowspan="2" | Comments
|-
! UIC and/or TSI<ref name='note506'>{{Cite web|url=http://www.uic.org/etf/codex/codex-detail.php?langue_fiche=E&codeFiche=506|title=Leaflet 506 – Rules governing application of the enlarged GA, GB, GB1, GB2, GC and GI3 gauges|access-date=27 May 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007123000/http://www.uic.org/etf/codex/codex-detail.php?langue_fiche=E&codeFiche=506|archive-date=7 October 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url = http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX:02006D0861-20130124 | title = TSI CR WAG; 02006D0861-20130124; Annex C: Track interaction and gauging | access-date = 7 October 2015 | author = EUR-Lex | date = 28 July 2006| url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151019001730/http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX:02006D0861-20130124 | archive-date = 19 October 2015}}</ref>
! [[International Wagon Regulations|RIV]]<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.rail.dbschenker.de/rail-deutschland-de/products_services/additional_services/ladungssicherung/loading_guidelines_of_ss/loading_guidelines.html | title = Verladerichtlinien der DB Schenker Rail AG (UIC – Verladerichtlinien); Tafel 1 Sammlung der Lademasse | access-date = 6 October 2015 | date = 1 July 2014 | language = de | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151019001730/http://www.rail.dbschenker.de/rail-deutschland-de/products_services/additional_services/ladungssicherung/loading_guidelines_of_ss/loading_guidelines.html | archive-date = 19 October 2015}}</ref>
! Width
! Height
! Width
! Height
|-
| G1 / UIC&nbsp;505-1 || T&nbsp;1<sub>1</sub>
| rowspan="6" align="center" | 3.150&nbsp;m || align="center" | 4.280&nbsp;m || rowspan="8" align="center" | 3.290&nbsp;m || align="center" | 4.310&nbsp;m
| Static profile also known as [[Berne gauge]], PPI or OSJD&nbsp;03-WM.
|-
| GA || T&nbsp;1<sub>2</sub>
| rowspan="4" align="center" | 4.320&nbsp;m || rowspan="4" align="center" | 4.350&nbsp;m
|
|-
| GB || T 1<sub>3</sub>
|
|-
| GB1 / GB+<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.gir-maralpin.org/TransptsDeplacemts/FerTransptCombine2S.pdf | title = Transport combiné et infrastructures ferroviaires; Compléments 1 – Terminologie – Chargements – Gabarits – Institutions | access-date = 29 September 2015 | author = Jacques Molinari | date = April 1999 | language = fr | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160306163748/http://www.gir-maralpin.org/TransptsDeplacemts/FerTransptCombine2S.pdf | archive-date = 6 March 2016 }}</ref> ||
|
|-
| GB2 ||
|
|-
| G2 || T&nbsp;1<sub>4</sub>
| align="center" | 4.650&nbsp;m || rowspan="2" align="center" | 4.680&nbsp;m
| Formerly UIC&nbsp;C; Static profile also known as OSJD&nbsp;02-WM.
|-
| DE3 ||
| colspan="2" align="center" | not defined
| Expansion for G2, part of [[Trans-European Rail network|TEN-T]] regulations.
|-
| GC ||
| align="center" | 3.150&nbsp;m || align="center" | 4.650&nbsp;m || align="center" | 4.700&nbsp;m
| Formerly UIC&nbsp;C1.
|-
| C ||
| align="center" | 3.600&nbsp;m || align="center" | 4.830&nbsp;m || colspan="2" align="center" | not defined
| High-capacity rail corridor standard for  [[Øresund Bridge]] and [[Fehmarn Belt Tunnel]]<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Boysen |first1=Hans E. |title=Øresund and Fehmarnbelt high-capacity rail corridor standards updated |journal=Journal of Rail Transport Planning & Management |date=December 2014 |volume=4 |issue=3 |pages=44–58 |doi=10.1016/j.jrtpm.2014.09.001 |doi-access=free }}</ref>
|}