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French to English translations [PRO] Tech/Engineering - Transport / Transportation / Shipping / high-speed line
French term or phrase:aiguille
La vitesse peut être supérieure à 220 km/h si le train est en ligne et ne prend pas l’aiguille (une fois en aiguille et une fois en ligne droite aux deux extrémités).
This concerns a new high-speed rail line that will consist of a single track in the middle portion and two tracks at its ends and the speeds the train will travel along each portion (high speed in the middle and lower at each end).
Does 'aiguille' here have to do with switching from the single track to the two track portion?
Explanation: it can go at this speed as long as it doesn't take the points (i.e. continues straight), as I understand it
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 20 mins (2008-08-15 18:01:31 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Hope I'm not explaining what you know already, but: points/switches are everything to do with transition between single and double track! They are the devices, in a very shallow Y shape, which allow tracks to merge/bifurcate. Usually they're much safer when taken "trailing" (lines merge), and particularly on the through-track (straight line), less safe when taken "facing" (lines diverge).
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 40 mins (2008-08-15 18:20:36 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
I'm taking it from the description that the layout is such that any train will pass in a straight line through the points at one end of the single-track section, and pass through from/onto the diverging track ("en aiguille") at the other end. Hence it will be free to travel at the higher speed either on entering or on leaving this section, but not both.
But I've now said as much as my limited experience of real railways qualifies me to say, so over (hopefully) to someone better qualified for confirmation/clarification.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 4 hrs (2008-08-15 21:46:52 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Hi Tamara, glad it's been of some help. The basic point (my turn to apologise!) of terminology seems more or less covered, I don't know how much more insight I can add on the whole context, as a non-specialist.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 19 hrs (2008-08-16 13:09:27 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Bourth has raised a good point on the details of the EN phraseology: "take the points" (= "pass over the points") really needs to be followed by an adverb phrase (typically one describing speed). So to rephrase the first sentence of my explanation: "... as long as it is not switching tracks ..." (i.e. not taking the divergent track of the points/switch).
Thank you Martin, and Graham, for all your input on this, I was actually unaware of the terms "points" in UK, and both of you (plus commenters) helped me find a coherent turn of phrase. Cheers! 4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer
Great discussion & all very helpful - thanks! It is, as Martin said a "double-single-double" layout, for two-way "traditional" train traffic at either end and a single-track high speed section in the middle which trains will travel in either direction.
Thus, as I understand it, the trains have no choice but to cross the switch points, either from the single-track portion to the double or vice-versa.
In addition, this part of the text specifically concerns the double-track or traditional rail portion. The high-speed portion allows much higher speeds of course.
Is there any further description of the track layout?
Automatic update in 00:
Answers
12 mins confidence:
stays on the main line
Explanation: ;;;
liz askew United Kingdom Local time: 01:47 Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 27
3 mins confidence: peer agreement (net): +6
points (UK); switch (US)
Explanation: it can go at this speed as long as it doesn't take the points (i.e. continues straight), as I understand it
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 20 mins (2008-08-15 18:01:31 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Hope I'm not explaining what you know already, but: points/switches are everything to do with transition between single and double track! They are the devices, in a very shallow Y shape, which allow tracks to merge/bifurcate. Usually they're much safer when taken "trailing" (lines merge), and particularly on the through-track (straight line), less safe when taken "facing" (lines diverge).
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 40 mins (2008-08-15 18:20:36 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
I'm taking it from the description that the layout is such that any train will pass in a straight line through the points at one end of the single-track section, and pass through from/onto the diverging track ("en aiguille") at the other end. Hence it will be free to travel at the higher speed either on entering or on leaving this section, but not both.
But I've now said as much as my limited experience of real railways qualifies me to say, so over (hopefully) to someone better qualified for confirmation/clarification.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 4 hrs (2008-08-15 21:46:52 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Hi Tamara, glad it's been of some help. The basic point (my turn to apologise!) of terminology seems more or less covered, I don't know how much more insight I can add on the whole context, as a non-specialist.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 19 hrs (2008-08-16 13:09:27 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Bourth has raised a good point on the details of the EN phraseology: "take the points" (= "pass over the points") really needs to be followed by an adverb phrase (typically one describing speed). So to rephrase the first sentence of my explanation: "... as long as it is not switching tracks ..." (i.e. not taking the divergent track of the points/switch).
Martin Cassell United Kingdom Local time: 01:47 Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 8
Grading comment
Thank you Martin, and Graham, for all your input on this, I was actually unaware of the terms "points" in UK, and both of you (plus commenters) helped me find a coherent turn of phrase. Cheers!
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you for your work on this so far, Martin - you are on the right track (horrible pun, sorry) as far as the layout - no diagram sorry, but will try to provide some more information tomorrow.
The translation workplace 
