What happens when trains cross borders from France?

Question

After my last question (thanks to all those who answered sensibly!), the next question is what happens when French trains go to another country, such as Spain or Italy? Do they also drive on the left or do the trains have to cross over?

Answer 1

If you travel by Thalys from Brussels to Cologne, just before crossing the border into Germany you'll notice a flyover where the eastbound track (on the left before the flyover) ducks under the westbound track. Both lines then plunge into a tunnel. Great route with nice scenery. Shame the trains are late.

By the way, your earlier question about ALL French trains driving on the left - this is incorrect as it's mainly the high speed services that drive on the left. The metros drive on the right.

Answer 2

Locomotives from France can go directly to other European countries. Eurail trains travel pretty much all over the conitnent without changing equipment.

Answer 3

The right- or left-handedness of various European rail systems is not all that straightforward. MOST of the French system was built and is still operated left handed. The exception is Alsace-Lorraine because that system was largely built by the Germans who controlled the region from 1870 and they operate right-handed.  When the French gained control of the region after WW 1 they maintained the right hand running because it would be too expensive to change all the signalling and other operating procedures. Therefore, you will find many "saut de mouton [sheep jumps]" railway flyovers along the old 1919 border.

Most all systems east of the German-French border run right handed.

As was mentioned, Spain and Portugal to the west are built on broad gauge (5' 6"), so standard gauge (1435mm/4' 8 1/2") trains coming from France (except the TGV as far as Barcelona (maybe Alicante by now) have to have their wheelsets adjusted. But Spanish and Portuguese trains run left-handed!

Here's a partial international list that should help you keep things straight. All are standard gauge (4' 8 1'2"/1435 mm) unless noted:

LEFT:  

Australia (still some 5' 3" and 3' 6" gauge along with standard), Belgium, Denmark, France (except the Metro and Alsace), Hong Kong, India (5' 6" and metre gauges), Ireland (5' 3"), Italy, Japan (3' 6" gauge except Shinkansen  "Bullet Trains" [Std.]), Pakistan (5' 6"), Portugal (5'6"), Singapore (metre), Slovenia, Spain (5' 6"), Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan (3' 6", except High Speed Line [Std.]), Thailand (metre), South Korea, UK.

RIGHT:  

Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland (5' 0" gauge), Germany, Hungary, Malaysia and Singapore (metre), Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia (except the line from Moscow to Ryazan) [5' 0" gauge], including former Soviet Republics of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, Slovak Republic, USA.

Answer 4

Don't be  a womble all of Europe is on the right..

Answer 5

cross over, go left then right again

Answer 6

No, they are all on the same side. If you think about it that is how you are able to get a Eurostar all the way across europe.

If the train does swap sides then its all controlled by signals, and its not for far (only if engineering is taking place) and then the signaller is speaking the driver through the area.

Answer 7

Even more interesting from France to Spain on the old tracks there is a difference in gauge.  All new high speed trains run on the same gauge but even now there is a train between France and Spain which slows down and re-adjusts its wheel width as it goes over a special gauge change section.  They say it was to stop the French invading!

As for driving left or right, we seem to have both depending on where you are.  Eurostar doesnt cross over just because it comes under the chunnel.