Widest gauge railway

The widest in standard use is 1.676m (5ft 6in), as used in Spain, Portugal, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Argentina and Chile. Standard gauge, 1435mm (4.698ft) is most widely used, being found in Britain, Canada, the USA, Mexico, Europe (except Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Finland and Russia), North Africa, China, South Korea, Paraguay, Uraguay, Peru, Venezuela and the Middle East. There are also some standard lines in Japan, Australia and Argentina, and short sections of it in Brazil. In Britain (since 1966) and in several other countries the standard gauge has been narrowed by 3mm to 1432mm (4.708ft) to reduce clearances and to obtain steadier running speeds with modern motive power and rolling stock at high speeds. Today there are many other gauges in use around the world, although the situation is far simpler than it was in the USA in 1871, when 19 different gauges in use, ranging from 914mm (3ft) to 1829mm (6ft).