Intercontinental Railways

Intercontinental Railways (ICRW) is a non-profit organization (NPO) covering the implementation of eponymous project.
It was established on 2024.05.01 in Vastaros, but it quickly outgrew its dimensions, and became multi-national and multi-continental.
The goal of the NPO is to develop double-track (mostly) broad gauge railways connecting whole world by coordinated cooperation of local communities. These railways shall serve the purpose of railway backbone, connecting also regional and local railways in areas interconnected by this backbone.
Those railways are not owned by ICRW, but while serving whole humanity, their placement is controlled by respective land owners, who decide if respective section will stay, adhering to which standards, or if will be removed (or even never deployed).
ICRW is a collective member of Abexilas Infrastructure Guild.
To contact project members, join 🎮 ICRW coordination Discord server.
== Abexilas Corridors ==
Currently following corridors are planned (blue lines) and some of their sections already in various stages of development (red lines), or cancelled instead (gray lines):
* CAERUS-IRISTOYA CORRIDOR:
** continent Caerus (Aethos/Tellia-Boulderov)
** continent Iristoya (mainly Valdic Union with crossing in Vastaros)
* WEST-EAST CENTRAL CORRIDOR:
** continent Iristoya (...-Vastaros-Valdic Union-...)
** island DonFuer
** continent Talasi (...-Bardonia-...-Beepeck-...)
** continent Cathrámis (...)
*IRISTOYA-HALINN CORRIDOR:
**continent Iristoya (...Valeria-...-Valdic Union)
** continent Halinn (...-Acreon-...) - CANCELLED
###########################################################
Vastaros and Valdgard, similarly as DonFuer island, are becoming some of natural transport hubs - crossroad nodes between crossing corridors on Iristoya continent.
Sections in Development
Area 	Area Lead 	Status 	Details 		
Ilnius 	Rodherodotos 	🏗 (Under) Construction	TBD 		
Tarrus 	Rodherodotos 	🚧 Demo 	TBD 		
Vastaros 	Rodherodotos 	🚧 Demo 	 		
Shurgothia	Rodherodotos 	🏗 (Under) Construction	Continuation waiting until Valdgard surface-level railway station permitted.		
Midjörv 	Tykkit 	🛑Cancelled 	- 		
Boulderov 	Aardvark “Pyro” Time	🚧 Demo 	
{| 		
== Backbone Design & Placement ==
=== Trackway Profile Standards ===
ICRW is a decentralized project, so it does not enforce any specific design of the trackway, and up to this day, multiple standards exist, and are documented in following sections, and summarized in comparison table:
acronym (full name) 	width	height	surface-level height	minimum airspace above	heavy redstone machinery (HRSM)	minecarts 	iceboats 	iceblocks required	configurability
MOD (Modern Original Design) 	7 	2 	1 	4 (to support HRSM) 	supported 	2 shared lanes	2 shared lanes	2/1 meter
(200%) 	iceblocks optional, trackways without them upgradable later
Other characteristics:
* modern, visually compact, look
* very cheap/available basic configuration without iceblocks installed supports faster expansion of ICRW
* shared lanes for minecarts and iceboats (=> potentially lower throughput)
* VSOD-attachable and completely compatible without any adapter	Other characteristics:
* modern, visually compact, look
* very cheap/available basic configuration without iceblocks installed supports faster expansion of ICRW
* shared lanes for minecarts and iceboats (=> potentially lower throughput)
* VSOD-attachable and completely compatible without any adapter	Other characteristics:
* modern, visually compact, look
* very cheap/available basic configuration without iceblocks installed supports faster expansion of ICRW
* shared lanes for minecarts and iceboats (=> potentially lower throughput)
* VSOD-attachable and completely compatible without any adapter	Other characteristics:
* modern, visually compact, look
* very cheap/available basic configuration without iceblocks installed supports faster expansion of ICRW
* shared lanes for minecarts and iceboats (=> potentially lower throughput)
* VSOD-attachable and completely compatible without any adapter	Other characteristics:
* modern, visually compact, look
* very cheap/available basic configuration without iceblocks installed supports faster expansion of ICRW
* shared lanes for minecarts and iceboats (=> potentially lower throughput)
* VSOD-attachable and completely compatible without any adapter	Other characteristics:
* modern, visually compact, look
* very cheap/available basic configuration without iceblocks installed supports faster expansion of ICRW
* shared lanes for minecarts and iceboats (=> potentially lower throughput)
* VSOD-attachable and completely compatible without any adapter	Other characteristics:
* modern, visually compact, look
* very cheap/available basic configuration without iceblocks installed supports faster expansion of ICRW
* shared lanes for minecarts and iceboats (=> potentially lower throughput)
* VSOD-attachable and completely compatible without any adapter	Other characteristics:
* modern, visually compact, look
* very cheap/available basic configuration without iceblocks installed supports faster expansion of ICRW
* shared lanes for minecarts and iceboats (=> potentially lower throughput)
* VSOD-attachable and completely compatible without any adapter	Other characteristics:
* modern, visually compact, look
* very cheap/available basic configuration without iceblocks installed supports faster expansion of ICRW
* shared lanes for minecarts and iceboats (=> potentially lower throughput)
* VSOD-attachable and completely compatible without any adapter	Other characteristics:
* modern, visually compact, look
* very cheap/available basic configuration without iceblocks installed supports faster expansion of ICRW
* shared lanes for minecarts and iceboats (=> potentially lower throughput)
* VSOD-attachable and completely compatible without any adapter
VSOD (Viking-Style Original Design) 	7-11 	2 	2 	4 (to support HRSM) 	supported 	2 shared lanes	2 shared lanes	2/1 meter
(200%) 	normal width is 11, but can be narrowed to 9, or even 7 in limited spaces
Other characteristics:
* fancy archaic style, preferred in some regions, although usually occupying more space (also visually)
* shared lanes for minecarts and iceboats (=> potentially lower throughput)
* MOD-attachable and completely compatible without any adapter	Other characteristics:
* fancy archaic style, preferred in some regions, although usually occupying more space (also visually)
* shared lanes for minecarts and iceboats (=> potentially lower throughput)
* MOD-attachable and completely compatible without any adapter	Other characteristics:
* fancy archaic style, preferred in some regions, although usually occupying more space (also visually)
* shared lanes for minecarts and iceboats (=> potentially lower throughput)
* MOD-attachable and completely compatible without any adapter	Other characteristics:
* fancy archaic style, preferred in some regions, although usually occupying more space (also visually)
* shared lanes for minecarts and iceboats (=> potentially lower throughput)
* MOD-attachable and completely compatible without any adapter	Other characteristics:
* fancy archaic style, preferred in some regions, although usually occupying more space (also visually)
* shared lanes for minecarts and iceboats (=> potentially lower throughput)
* MOD-attachable and completely compatible without any adapter	Other characteristics:
* fancy archaic style, preferred in some regions, although usually occupying more space (also visually)
* shared lanes for minecarts and iceboats (=> potentially lower throughput)
* MOD-attachable and completely compatible without any adapter	Other characteristics:
* fancy archaic style, preferred in some regions, although usually occupying more space (also visually)
* shared lanes for minecarts and iceboats (=> potentially lower throughput)
* MOD-attachable and completely compatible without any adapter	Other characteristics:
* fancy archaic style, preferred in some regions, although usually occupying more space (also visually)
* shared lanes for minecarts and iceboats (=> potentially lower throughput)
* MOD-attachable and completely compatible without any adapter	Other characteristics:
* fancy archaic style, preferred in some regions, although usually occupying more space (also visually)
* shared lanes for minecarts and iceboats (=> potentially lower throughput)
* MOD-attachable and completely compatible without any adapter	Other characteristics:
* fancy archaic style, preferred in some regions, although usually occupying more space (also visually)
* shared lanes for minecarts and iceboats (=> potentially lower throughput)
* MOD-attachable and completely compatible without any adapter
BGEIWD (Broad-Gauge Efficient Iceway Design) 	9 	2 	1 	4 (to support HRSM) 	supported 	2 lanes 	2 lanes 	1/2 meters =
0.5/1 meter
(50%)	broad-gauge tracks can be removed to narrow it to NGEIWD
Other characteristics:
* technical/futuristic look & feel
* wider HRSM supported
* maximum iceblocks placement efficiency
* indepentent separate lanes for minecarts and iceboats (=> potentially higher throughput)
* NGEIWD-attachable and compatible without any adapter (HRSM transition not supported)	Other characteristics:
* technical/futuristic look & feel
* wider HRSM supported
* maximum iceblocks placement efficiency
* indepentent separate lanes for minecarts and iceboats (=> potentially higher throughput)
* NGEIWD-attachable and compatible without any adapter (HRSM transition not supported)	Other characteristics:
* technical/futuristic look & feel
* wider HRSM supported
* maximum iceblocks placement efficiency
* indepentent separate lanes for minecarts and iceboats (=> potentially higher throughput)
* NGEIWD-attachable and compatible without any adapter (HRSM transition not supported)	Other characteristics:
* technical/futuristic look & feel
* wider HRSM supported
* maximum iceblocks placement efficiency
* indepentent separate lanes for minecarts and iceboats (=> potentially higher throughput)
* NGEIWD-attachable and compatible without any adapter (HRSM transition not supported)	Other characteristics:
* technical/futuristic look & feel
* wider HRSM supported
* maximum iceblocks placement efficiency
* indepentent separate lanes for minecarts and iceboats (=> potentially higher throughput)
* NGEIWD-attachable and compatible without any adapter (HRSM transition not supported)	Other characteristics:
* technical/futuristic look & feel
* wider HRSM supported
* maximum iceblocks placement efficiency
* indepentent separate lanes for minecarts and iceboats (=> potentially higher throughput)
* NGEIWD-attachable and compatible without any adapter (HRSM transition not supported)	Other characteristics:
* technical/futuristic look & feel
* wider HRSM supported
* maximum iceblocks placement efficiency
* indepentent separate lanes for minecarts and iceboats (=> potentially higher throughput)
* NGEIWD-attachable and compatible without any adapter (HRSM transition not supported)	Other characteristics:
* technical/futuristic look & feel
* wider HRSM supported
* maximum iceblocks placement efficiency
* indepentent separate lanes for minecarts and iceboats (=> potentially higher throughput)
* NGEIWD-attachable and compatible without any adapter (HRSM transition not supported)	Other characteristics:
* technical/futuristic look & feel
* wider HRSM supported
* maximum iceblocks placement efficiency
* indepentent separate lanes for minecarts and iceboats (=> potentially higher throughput)
* NGEIWD-attachable and compatible without any adapter (HRSM transition not supported)	Other characteristics:
* technical/futuristic look & feel
* wider HRSM supported
* maximum iceblocks placement efficiency
* indepentent separate lanes for minecarts and iceboats (=> potentially higher throughput)
* NGEIWD-attachable and compatible without any adapter (HRSM transition not supported)
NGEIWD (Narrow-Gauge Efficient Iceway Design)	5 	2 	0-1 	1.5 	not supported 	2 lanes 	2 lanes 	1/2 meters =
0.5/1 meter
(50%)	broad-gauge tracks can be added to extend it to NGEIWD
Other characteristics:
* technical/futuristic look & feel
* narrowest
* maximum iceblocks placement efficiency
* indepentent separate lanes for minecarts and iceboats (=> potentially higher throughput)
* BGEIWD-attachable and compatible without any adapter (HRSM transition not supported)	Other characteristics:
* technical/futuristic look & feel
* narrowest
* maximum iceblocks placement efficiency
* indepentent separate lanes for minecarts and iceboats (=> potentially higher throughput)
* BGEIWD-attachable and compatible without any adapter (HRSM transition not supported)	Other characteristics:
* technical/futuristic look & feel
* narrowest
* maximum iceblocks placement efficiency
* indepentent separate lanes for minecarts and iceboats (=> potentially higher throughput)
* BGEIWD-attachable and compatible without any adapter (HRSM transition not supported)	Other characteristics:
* technical/futuristic look & feel
* narrowest
* maximum iceblocks placement efficiency
* indepentent separate lanes for minecarts and iceboats (=> potentially higher throughput)
* BGEIWD-attachable and compatible without any adapter (HRSM transition not supported)	Other characteristics:
* technical/futuristic look & feel
* narrowest
* maximum iceblocks placement efficiency
* indepentent separate lanes for minecarts and iceboats (=> potentially higher throughput)
* BGEIWD-attachable and compatible without any adapter (HRSM transition not supported)	Other characteristics:
* technical/futuristic look & feel
* narrowest
* maximum iceblocks placement efficiency
* indepentent separate lanes for minecarts and iceboats (=> potentially higher throughput)
* BGEIWD-attachable and compatible without any adapter (HRSM transition not supported)	Other characteristics:
* technical/futuristic look & feel
* narrowest
* maximum iceblocks placement efficiency
* indepentent separate lanes for minecarts and iceboats (=> potentially higher throughput)
* BGEIWD-attachable and compatible without any adapter (HRSM transition not supported)	Other characteristics:
* technical/futuristic look & feel
* narrowest
* maximum iceblocks placement efficiency
* indepentent separate lanes for minecarts and iceboats (=> potentially higher throughput)
* BGEIWD-attachable and compatible without any adapter (HRSM transition not supported)	Other characteristics:
* technical/futuristic look & feel
* narrowest
* maximum iceblocks placement efficiency
* indepentent separate lanes for minecarts and iceboats (=> potentially higher throughput)
* BGEIWD-attachable and compatible without any adapter (HRSM transition not supported)	Other characteristics:
* technical/futuristic look & feel
* narrowest
* maximum iceblocks placement efficiency
* indepentent separate lanes for minecarts and iceboats (=> potentially higher throughput)
* BGEIWD-attachable and compatible without any adapter (HRSM transition not supported)
==== Modern Original Design (MOD, 7 blocks wide) ====
Standard profile (cross-section) for double-track (2-way) broad-gauge trackway and has following requirements:
It evolved from Foolandish railway standards, enriched by Halinnian ice technologies knowledge, brought from south (Halinn) to north (Iristoya) by Vikings from Midjörv (see VSOD standard below). This design is usually relatively cheap, because it consists mainly of the cobblestone, and has more precious ice blocks just as an optional upgrade, so it allows relatively fast development of new sections and expansion of ICRW.
==== Viking-Style Original Design (VSOD, 7-11 blocks wide) ====
Vikings from Midjörv led by their trackway designer Tykkit were building robust trackways, consisting of heavy dark steel rails, supported by strong wooden sleepers consisting of spruce logs and dark oak planks, lying on gravel to reduce vibrations. They were utilizing fast iceway technology imported by them to Iristoya from Halinn. They were developing the railway from their southern coastal town, expanding with it north, but the project was cancelled due to conlicting interests in the territory.
==== Broad-Gauge Efficient Iceway Design (BGEIWD, 9 blocks wide) ====
Evolution of standards for fast railways continued (independently on Iristoya) also in Halinn, where higher throughput trackway, using for the same speed even 75% less ice blocks than MOD or VSOD, was developed. Unlike its older brothers, this standard allowed independent operation of iceboats and railcarts without the need of their avoidance or overtaking controlled by the driver. Due to its not only higher width, but also wider wheel track of heavy redstone machinery, which requires also wider unobstructed spaces (tunnels, bridges with railings, etc.) for seamless operation, therefore it is most suitable for non-constrained areas like e.g. trans-oceanic sections, where material usage efficiency is the key feature of the trackway.
==== Narrow-Gauge Efficient Iceway Design (NGEIWD, 5 blocks wide) ====
BGEIWD reduced of broad gauge rails on its sides eliminates the possibility of heavy redstone machinery (HRSM) operation, but it also reduces trackway width from 9 to 5, and required height as well to approximately half. This standard is most suitable into most restricted spaces, where using HRSM or other broad gauge locomotives or train cars is not an option or not required.
=== Sections Coordinates ===
Trackway section is defined as completely straight in a sense of 2 of 3 coordinates (X, Y, Z) constant and only one variable. The goal also is to minimize quantity of switches and having movement distance of redstone machinery as high as possible, therefore the longer completely straight sections are, the better (preferred).
Coordinates of sections under development:
* CAERUS-IRISTOYA CORRIDORS:
** X=-9656, Y=80 (altitude: 17 blocks above sea level): Vastaros - ... - Farafin
** X=-8985, Y=83 (altitude: 20 blocks above sea level): Valdgard - Shurgothia - ... - Verindale - .... Valera
* WEST-EAST CENTRAL CORRIDOR: Z=796, Y=77 (altitude: 14 blocks above sea level): Dehran - Vastaros - Valdgard - DonFuer - ...
* IRISTOYA-HALINN CORRIDOR:
** south Iristoya section: X=-9054, Y=77 (altitude: 14 blocks above sea level): Valdgard - Nyr Erovald - Midjörv
** Sakravir - DonFuer section: X=-7287 , Y=77 (altitude: 14 blocks above sea level): DonFuer - Tarrus - Ilnius
* TIBERIA-TALASI CORRIDOR: X=?, Y=? (altitude: ? blocks above sea level)
⚠️CAUTION !! Central blocks of the sections have to be placed exactly at above horizontal coordinates (X/Z), and rails to be placed exactly at above vertical coordinates (Y), with required minimum height of air columns above them as depicted above (at least 4 full blocks of air, also in railway tunnels tunnels, under bridges, etc.). Any misplacement can cause transition to or from misplaced section partially or totally impassable or off-tracked by heavy redstone machinery (to be constructed in the future by enlightened individuals), which is one of main reasons for railway backbone development.
=== Sections Elevation ===
Another criteria for ICRW development planning is to maximize surface-level placement, and minimize underground or above-ground placements (tunnels, bridges). Reasons for surface-level placement:
* cost-effectiveness / rentability
** minimized digging tunnels, building bridges and their pillars, etc.
** underground railway is hidden, its significance in the landscape is degraded, which reduces possible benefits from the expenses
** visible and accessible railway may attract new citizens, building their settlements and businesses along it
* aesthetics
** out of the tunnels, panoramas of landscapes - towns/villages, nature/wilderness, etc. - can be seen+enjoyed while traveling in train carts
** bridges with the right length, sensitively fit into the land, can be very beautiful, but too long bridges are just monstrous
** sensitively placed railways, tunnel entrances, shorter bridges, can make land more interesting, rich, and diverse
== Project Phases ==
Individual sections of ICRW can be (and are) in different phases:
* 📐Planned
** 4 corridors are in this phase (blue lines in the map above)
* 🥇Demo
** selected sections of 4 pilot corridors are in this phase, waiting for approval by governments in respective territories (most of red lines in the map above)
* 🏗 (Under) Construction
** for sections approved by governments of respective territories, construction can be or is started
* 🛤️Local (regional) backbone
** finished sections can be used by minecarts, heavy redstone machinery, and optionally iceboats, as local backbones connecting towns (and optionally their local railways) in a region of single continent
* 🛤️🛤️Trans-continental backbone
** local/regional sections chained and connecting opposite edges (shores) of the continent, able to transport minecarts, heavy redstone machinery, and optionally iceboats, between them
* 🛤️🛤️🛤️Inter-continental backbone
** trans-continental backbones connected over oceanic areas, able to transport minecarts, heavy redstone machinery, and optionally iceboats, between at least two continents
*🛑Cancelled
**sections previously planned or under construction, but later dismissed (currently southern Iristoya / Valdic Union in this phase)
Order and transitioning between phases may differ in different section, some phases may be skipped.
== Organization ==
NPO has no employees and it is relying completely on volunteers.
Inspired by kind of self-developing service-oriented architecture, NPO does not have hierarchical/pyramidal/subordination-based organization structure, but it is absolutely flat and decentralized, while the cooperation based on voluntarily chosen roles (in various areas of the world). Therefore it has no single (central) leader (president, chairman, etc.) and no single (central) headquarters, and its offices may be (and are) being established around the world by respective area leads and their coworkers.
One area may have multiple area leads. To be a lead does not mean to get appointed by NPO, but just playing the role voluntarily - anyway, it is usually good, if an area lead is confirmed by national/regional governments or town/local municipalities and is in sync with their plans, to develop the project in their territories, although it is not strictly required by NPO in any case.
Area leads are not obliged by any "central concepts", they can have their own visions and methods (which NPO also is trying to collect and document), and they may cooperate and coordinate with other leads, or national/town communities, on a voluntary basis.
To be an area lead does not mean, that other coworkers are obliged to taking orders from them, but the area leads are usually naturally able to influence others so that the project can move forward. But area leads may also establish their own (even hierarchical/pyramidal), local/regional/global organizations, or even make a profit from them, if they will voluntarily decide and implement it so, which is not contradicting its complete decentralization/flatness of the project - NPO is just not defining, supporting, or denying it, and stays as defined on its own NPO level.