bredspor

Bredspor refers to a railway track gauge that is wider than standard gauge. While standard gauge is typically 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in), bredspor encompasses any gauge wider than this. The most common bredspor gauges include the Iberian gauge, used in Spain and Portugal, which is 1,668 mm (5 ft 5 21⁄32 in), and the Russian gauge, used in Russia and other former Soviet states, which is 1,520 mm (4 ft 11 27⁄32 in) and 1,524 mm (5 ft 0 in).

The use of bredspor has historical roots, often developed for strategic or economic reasons. For instance, the Russian gauge was implemented partly for defense, making it more difficult for invading forces using standard gauge rolling stock to operate on Russian railways. In the case of the Iberian gauge, its adoption predates the widespread standardization of railway gauges and was influenced by early British railway engineers who used a slightly wider gauge.

Operating trains on bredspor lines requires rolling stock specifically designed for that gauge. This can create challenges for international rail traffic where different gauges meet, necessitating the transshipment of goods or the use of special bogies that can be adjusted for different track widths. In some cases, efforts have been made to convert bredspor lines to standard gauge to facilitate easier international integration and to take advantage of a wider range of available rolling stock.