Qinghai–Tibet railway

མཚོ་བོད་ལྕགས་ལམ།
青藏铁路OverviewStatusOperationalLocale People's Republic of China

• Qinghai
• Tibet Autonomous Region

Coordinates{{33°00′18.50″N 91°38′57.70″E / 33.0051389°N 91.6493611°E}}Termini4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gaugeElectrificationOverhead catenary 25kV 50Hz (Xining–Golmud)Operating speed160 km/h (99 mph) (Xining–Golmud)
100 km/h (62 mph) (Golmud–Lhasa)

The Qinghai–Tibet railway or Qingzang railway (Standard Tibetan: མཚོ་བོད་ལྕགས་ལམ།, mtsho bod lcags lam; simplified Chinese: 青藏铁路; traditional Chinese: 青藏鐵路; pinyin: Qīngzàng Tiělù), is a high-elevation railway line in China between Xining, Qinghai Province, and Lhasa, Tibet.^[1] With over 960 km (600 mi) of track being more than 4,000 m (13,123 ft) above sea level, it is the highest railway line in the world.

Construction began on the 815 km (506 mi) section between Xining and Golmud in 1958 and was completed in 1984;^[2] the remaining 1,142 km (710 mi) from Golmud to Lhasa started construction in 2001 and opened in 2006,^[3][4] making it the first railway line in Tibet.^[5] Passenger trains run from Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Xining, and Lanzhou, and can carry between 800 and 1,000 passengers during peak season.^[6][7]

In addition to it being the world's highest railway, the line is also the holder of numerous other records; the line includes the Tanggula Pass, the highest point on a railway in the world at 5,072 m (16,640 ft) above sea level, and Tanggula railway station at 5,068 m (16,627 ft) is the world's highest railway station. The 1,338 m (4,390 ft) long Fenghuoshan tunnel is the highest rail tunnel in the world at 4,905 m (16,093 ft) above sea level.^[8]

In 2022, the Chinese government announce plans for the line to be electrified. Construction started in June 2022 and is expected to take three years, at a total cost of 14.84 billion yuan.^[9][10]

Construction

The capital of the Qinghai Province, Xining, became connected with the rest of the country by rail in 1959, when the Lanqing Railway from Lanzhou was completed.^[11]

The 815 km (506 mi) section of the future Qingzang Railway from Xining to Golmud, Qinghai opened to traffic in 1984. But the remaining 1,142 km (710 mi) section from Golmud to Lhasa could not be constructed until technical difficulties of building railroad tracks on permafrost were solved.^[12] This section was formally started on 29 June 2001, finished on 12 October 2005, and signaling work and track testing took another eight months. It was completed in five years at a cost of $3.68 billion.^[13]

Track-laying in Tibet was launched from both directions, towards Tanggula Mountain and Lhasa, from Amdo railway station on 22 June 2004. On 24 August 2005, track was laid at the railway's highest point, the Tanggula Pass, 5,072 m (16,640 feet) above sea level.^[14]

There are 44 stations, among them Tanggula Mountain railway station, at 5,068 m (16,627 ft) the world's highest. Peru's Ticlio railway station at 4,829 m (15,843 ft) is the highest in the Americas (Cóndor station; at 4,786 m or 15,702 ft, on the Rio Mulatos-Potosí line, Bolivia, and La Galera station at 4,777 m or 15,673 ft, in Peru, being the next highest). The Qingzang Railway project involved more than 20,000 workers and over 6,000 pieces of industrial equipment, and is one of China's major accomplishments of the 21st century.

Bombardier Transportation built 361 high-altitude passenger carriages with special enriched-oxygen and UV-protection systems, delivered between December 2005 and May 2006. Fifty-three are luxury sleeper carriages for tourist services.^[15]

The construction of the railway was part of the China Western Development strategy, an attempt to develop the western provinces of China, which are much less developed than eastern China. The railway will be extended to Zhangmu via Shigatse (日喀则) to the west, and Dali via Nyingchi (林芝) to the east. A further extension is planned to link Shigatse with Yadong near the China-India border^[16] (Map^[17]). The railway is considered one of the greatest feats in modern Chinese history by the government, and as a result, is often mentioned on regular TV programs. Chinese-Tibetan folk singer Han Hong has a song called Tianlu (Road to Heaven; 天路) praising the Qingzang Railway.

Completed extensions

On 17 August 2008, a railway spokesman confirmed plans to add six more rail lines connecting to the Qinghai–Tibet railway, including from Lhasa to Nyingchi and from Lhasa to Shigatse, both in the Tibet Autonomous Region. Three lines will originate from Golmud in Qinghai province and run to Chengdu in Sichuan province, Dunhuang in Gansu province, and Korla of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The sixth will link Xining, the capital of Qinghai, with Zhangye in Gansu. The six lines are expected to be in operation before 2020.^[18] Construction work of the Lhasa–Shigatse extension began on 26 September 2010;^[19] it was opened in August 2014.^[20]

The construction of Dunhuang–Golmud railway began in December 2012 and finished on 18 December 2019.^[21] This new railway extends the existed Yinmaxia station on the Qinghai–Tibet Railway 506 km (314 mi) to Dunhuang, Gansu,^[22] establishing a direct connection between Xinjiang and Tibet.

Addition of capacity and electrification

Given that the Sichuan-Tibet railway is expected to be completed relatively later with less capacity, the Qinghai–Tibet railway is expected to add cargo capacity to fulfill the demand of material transportation. 13 stations along the Qinghai–Tibet railway have received extensions of sidings or passing loops, or these were built from scratch. This will allow the daily train received from Lhasa Railway station to expand from 6 to 12–14. An electrification feasibility study is also in progress.^[23]

Connection to Nepal

In a meeting between Chinese and Nepalese officials on 25 April 2008, the Chinese delegation announced the intention to extend the Qingzang railway to Zhangmu (Nepali: Khasa) on the Nepalese border. Nepal had requested that the railway be extended to enable trade and tourism between the two nations. The section Lhasa-Shigatse opened in August 2014. In June 2018, China and Nepal signed a series of agreements including the construction of Shigatse-Kathmandu railway during Nepali prime minister Oli's visit to China. Construction is expected to be complete by 2024.^[24]

Route

Within the Golmud to Lhasa section of the line there are 45 stations, 38 of which are unstaffed and monitored by the control center in Xining. Thirteen more stations are planned.^[25]

The 4,010 m (13,160 ft) New Guanjiao Tunnel is the longest tunnel between Xining and Golmud, and the 3,345 m (10,974 ft) Yangbajing tunnel is the longest tunnel between Golmud and Lhasa. More than 960 km (600 mi), over 80% of the Golmud–Lhasa section, is at an elevation of more than 4,000 m (13,123 ft). There are 675 bridges, totalling 160 km (99 mi); about 550 km (340 mi) of track is laid on permafrost.

Existing stations
English name	Chinese name	Distance from Xining in km (mi)	Coordinates	Altitude
Xining Lanzhou–Qinghai railway	西宁
Xining Xiaoqiao	西宁小桥
Xining West	西宁西	12 km (7.5 mi)	36°39′28″N 101°41′14″E / 36.65778°N 101.68736°E / 36.65778; 101.68736	2282 m
Shuangzhai	双寨	24 km (15 mi)
Zhamalong	扎麻隆	35 km (22 mi)
Shiyazhuang	石崖庄	48 km (30 mi)
Tongkor	湟源	58 km (36 mi)	36°41′02″N 101°14′23″E / 36.68384°N 101.23963°E / 36.68384; 101.23963	2650 m
Shenzhong	申中	67 km (42 mi)
Bayan	巴燕	77 km (48 mi)
Yuejiacun	岳家村	85 km (53 mi)
Haiyan	海晏	97 km (60 mi)	36°52′01″N 100°59′37″E / 36.86703°N 100.99359°E / 36.86703; 100.99359	3074 m
Huangcaozhuang	黄草庄	108 km (67 mi)
Ketu	克土	122 km (76 mi)
Qinghai Lake	青海湖	133 km (83 mi)
Tol	托勒	147 km (91 mi)
Garzê River	甘孜河	162 km (101 mi)
Hargai	哈尔盖	177 km (110 mi)	37°10′59″N 100°24′57″E / 37.18308°N 100.41576°E / 37.18308; 100.41576	3248 m
Gangcha	刚察	208 km (129 mi)	37°14′38″N 100°05′54″E / 37.24375°N 100.09843°E / 37.24375; 100.09843	3238 m
Huangyu	黄玉	223 km (139 mi)
Niaodao	鸟岛
Jirmeng	吉尔孟	251 km (156 mi)
Jianghe	江河	266 km (165 mi)
Tianpeng	天棚	290 km (180 mi)
Lumang	鹿芒	311 km (193 mi)
Tianjun	天峻	311 km (193 mi)
Nanshan	南山	330 km (210 mi)
Erlang	二郎	342 km (213 mi)
Chahannuo	察汗诺	364 km (226 mi)
Gaba	尕巴	397 km (247 mi)
Ulan	乌兰	407 km (253 mi)	36°57′14″N 98°28′03″E / 36.95397°N 98.46755°E / 36.95397; 98.46755	3017 m
Saishike	赛什克	411 km (255 mi)
Keke	柯柯	426 km (265 mi)	36°59′02″N 98°15′18″E / 36.98391°N 98.25511°E / 36.98391; 98.25511	2966 m
Chaikai	柴凯	448 km (278 mi)
Taoli	陶力	474 km (295 mi)
Gahai	尕海	498 km (309 mi)
Delingha	德令哈	521 km (324 mi)	37°18′51″N 97°22′59″E / 37.314287°N 97.38301°E / 37.314287; 97.38301	2945 m
Denong	德农	523 km (325 mi)
Gobi	戈碧	548 km (341 mi)
Lianhu	连湖	563 km (350 mi)
Quanshuiliang	泉水梁	583 km (362 mi)
Pingshuang	平爽	607 km (377 mi)
Hangya	航垭	639 km (397 mi)
Yinmaxia Golmud-Dunhuang Railway	饮马峡	675 km (419 mi)	37°19′26″N 95°52′20″E / 37.32396°N 95.87227°E / 37.32396; 95.87227	3151 m
Xitieshan	锡铁山	699 km (434 mi)	37°15′28″N 95°38′14″E / 37.25768°N 95.63723°E / 37.25768; 95.63723	2996 m
Songrugou	松如沟	711 km (442 mi)
Dabusun	达布逊	750 km (470 mi)	36°55′9″N 95°21′49″E / 36.91917°N 95.36361°E / 36.91917; 95.36361
Qarhan A private branch to Zannge Potash Co.	察尔汗	764 km (475 mi)	36°48′37″N 95°18′15″E / 36.81032°N 95.30416°E / 36.81032; 95.30416	2687 m
Yushui River	鱼水河	797 km (495 mi)
Golmud East	格尔木东	808 km (502 mi)	36°25′08″N 94°55′25″E / 36.41889°N 94.92361°E / 36.41889; 94.92361
Golmud	格尔木	830 km (520 mi)	36°22′58″N 94°54′21″E / 36.38278°N 94.90583°E / 36.38278; 94.90583	2829 m
Nanshankou	南山口	857 km (533 mi)	36°11′34″N 94°46′46″E / 36.19278°N 94.77944°E / 36.19278; 94.77944
Ganlong	甘隆	881 km (547 mi)	35°59′33″N 94°49′05″E / 35.99250°N 94.81806°E / 35.99250; 94.81806
Nachitai	纳赤台	914 km (568 mi)	35°52.4′N 94°32.2′E / 35.8733°N 94.5367°E / 35.8733; 94.5367
Xiaonanchuan	小南川	937 km (582 mi)	35°51′37″N 94°20′47″E / 35.86028°N 94.34639°E / 35.86028; 94.34639
Yuzhufeng	玉珠峰	955 km (593 mi)	35°43′47″N 94°18′27″E / 35.72972°N 94.30750°E / 35.72972; 94.30750
Wangkun	望昆	973 km (605 mi)	35°42′53″N 94°06′47″E / 35.71472°N 94.11306°E / 35.71472; 94.11306
Budongquan	不冻泉	1,010 km (630 mi)	35°31.2′N 93°54.3′E / 35.5200°N 93.9050°E / 35.5200; 93.9050
Chumar River	楚玛尔河	1,056 km (656 mi)	35°22.6′N 93°29.2′E / 35.3767°N 93.4867°E / 35.3767; 93.4867
Wudaoliang	五道梁	1,100 km (680 mi)	35°11′41″N 93°04′43″E / 35.19472°N 93.07861°E / 35.19472; 93.07861
Xiushui River	秀水河	1,138 km (707 mi)
Jiangkedong	江克栋	1,174 km (729 mi)
Riachiqu	日阿尺曲	1,196 km (743 mi)
Wuli	乌丽	1,220 km (760 mi)
Tuotuo River	沱沱河	1,239 km (770 mi)
Kaixinling	开心岭	1,260 km (780 mi)
Tongtian River	通天河	1,281 km (796 mi)
Tanggang	塘岗	1,309 km (813 mi)
Yanshiping	雁石坪	1,334 km (829 mi)
Bumade	布玛德	1,356 km (843 mi)
Buqiangge	布强格	1,380 km (860 mi)
Tanggula North	唐古拉北	1,404 km (872 mi)
Tanggula	唐古拉	1,421 km (883 mi)	32°53′5″N 91°55′6″E / 32.88472°N 91.91833°E / 32.88472; 91.91833
Tanggula South	唐古拉南	1,441 km (895 mi)
Za'gyazangbo	扎加藏布	1,460 km (910 mi)
Tuoju	托居	1,499 km (931 mi)
Amdo	安多	1,524 km (947 mi)	32°15′8″N 91°39′57″E / 32.25222°N 91.66583°E / 32.25222; 91.66583
Cuona Lake	措那湖	1,553 km (965 mi)	32°02′04″N 91°32′04″E / 32.0343465°N 91.5343443°E / 32.0343465; 91.5343443	4594 m
Liantong River	联通河	1,574 km (978 mi)
Dongqen	底吾玛	1,593 km (990 mi)
Gacha	岗秀	1,632 km (1,014 mi)
Nagqu	那曲	1,650 km (1,030 mi)	31°26′45″N 91°59′21″E / 31.44583°N 91.98917°E / 31.44583; 91.98917	4513 m
Yuru	妥如	1,691 km (1,051 mi)
Sangshung	桑雄	1,713 km (1,064 mi)
Gulog	古露	1,735 km (1,078 mi)
Umathang	乌玛塘	1,775 km (1,103 mi)
Damxung	当雄	1,808 km (1,123 mi)	30°27.6′N 91°04.8′E / 30.4600°N 91.0800°E / 30.4600; 91.0800	4293 m
Dhachugo	达琼果	1,845 km (1,146 mi)
Yangbaling	羊八林	1,864 km (1,158 mi)
Yangpachen	羊八井	1,881 km (1,169 mi)
Angga	昂嘎	1,901 km (1,181 mi)
Maxiang	马乡	1,913 km (1,189 mi)
Gurong	古荣	1,930 km (1,200 mi)
Lhasa West	拉萨西	1,953 km (1,214 mi)	29°38′38″N 90°58′00″E / 29.64389°N 90.96667°E / 29.64389; 90.96667
Lhasa Lhasa–Xigazê railway Sichuan–Tibet railway	拉萨	1,972 km (1,225 mi)	29°37′30″N 91°04′07″E / 29.62500°N 91.06861°E / 29.62500; 91.06861

Trains and tickets

The trains are specially built for high-elevation environments. The diesel locomotives for cargo were built by CSR Qishuyan (DF8B-9000 Series) and by CNR Erqi Locomotive (DF7G-8000 Series), and the locomotives for passenger transportation were built by GE in Pennsylvania (NJ2), and the passenger carriages are Chinese-made 25T carriages: on train Z21/Z22, between Beijing West and Lhasa, Bombardier Sifang Transportation (BSP) made carriages on the Golmud-Lhasa section in deep green/yellow or deep red/yellow. Signs in the carriages are in Tibetan, Chinese, and English. The operational speed is 120 km/h (75 mph) and 100 km/h (62 mph) over sections laid on permafrost.

The railway from Golmud to Lhasa was completed on 12 October 2005, and it opened to regular trial service on 1 July 2006.^[26]

The locomotives are turbocharged to combat the power-reducing effect of having to run on about half an atmosphere of air due to extreme altitude.

At the beginning, only three trains ran: Beijing–Lhasa (every day), Chengdu/Chongqing–Lhasa (every other day), and Lanzhou/Xining–Lhasa. Shanghai/Guangzhou–Lhasa services were added in October 2006. In July 2010, the Shanghai–Lhasa service became daily, and a daily service between Xining and Lhasa was added, but the service was then suspended for the winter season.

Since October 2006, five pairs of passenger trains run between Golmud and Lhasa, and one more pair between Xining and Golmud. The line has a capacity of eight pairs of passenger trains.

Oxygen supply and medical issues

The passenger carriages used on Lhasa trains are specially built and have an oxygen supply for each passenger. Every passenger train has a doctor.

A Passenger Health Registration Card is required to take the train between Golmud and Lhasa. The card can be obtained when purchasing the ticket. Passengers must read the health notice for high-elevation travel and sign the agreement on the card to take the train. On 28 August 2006, a 75-year-old Hong Kong man was reported to be the first passenger to die on the train, after he had suffered heart problems in Lhasa but insisted on travelling to Xining.^[27]

Engineering challenges

There are many technical difficulties for such a railway. About half of the second section was built on barely permanent permafrost. In the summer, the uppermost layer thaws, and the ground becomes muddy. The heat from the trains passing above is able to melt the permafrost even with a small change in temperature. The main engineering challenge, aside from oxygen shortages, is the weakness of the permafrost. For areas of permafrost that are not very fragile, an embankment of large rocks is sufficient. Meanwhile, in the most fragile areas, the rail bed must be elevated like a bridge. The engineers dealt with this problem in the areas of weakest permafrost by building elevated tracks with pile-driven foundations sunk deep into the ground.^[28] Similar to the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, portions of the track are also passively cooled with ammonia-based heat exchangers.

Due to climate change, temperatures in the Tibetan Plateau may be considered to increase by an estimated two to three degrees Celsius^{[citation needed]}. This change is sufficient to melt the permafrost and thereby affect the integrity of the entire system. The effects of climate change have yet to be seen.

The air in Tibet is much thinner, with oxygen partial pressure being 35% to 40% below that at sea level. Special passenger carriages are used, and several oxygen factories were built along the railway. Each seat in the train is equipped with an oxygen supply outlet for any possible emergency. The Chinese government claimed that no construction workers died during the construction due to altitude sickness related diseases.^[29] The railway passes the Kunlun Mountains, an earthquake zone. The 7.8 M_w Kunlun earthquake struck in 2001 (but caused no fatalities). Dozens of earthquake monitors have been installed along the railway.

Impact

Economic

With limited industrial capacity in Tibet, the Tibetan economy heavily relies on industrial products from more developed parts of China. Transport of goods in and out of Tibet was mostly through the Qingzang Highway connecting Tibet to the adjacent Qinghai province, which was built in the early 1950s. The length and terrain have limited the capacity of the highway, with less than 1 million tons of goods transported each year. With the construction of the Qingzang railway, the cost of transportation of both passengers and goods should be greatly reduced, allowing for an increase in volume—the cost per tonne-kilometer will be reduced from 0.38 RMB to 0.12 RMB. It is projected that by 2010, 2.8 million tons will be carried to and from Tibet, with over 75% carried by the railway.^[30] Before the railway, the purchasing power of 100 RMB in Lhasa was only commensurate with 54 RMB in coastal regions of China, mainly due to high transport costs. The railway could elevate living standards along the route.^[31]

Social

Environmentalists and Tibetan independence activists protested against the construction of the railway. The Tibetan government-in-exile believes that the line and the further expansion of the rail network will contribute to further influx of Chinese people, the de-nationalization of Tibetans and the depletion of the region's natural resources.^[32]

According to Chinese state news agency Xinhua News, the Qingzang railway has promoted the inheritance of Tibetan culture and religion, as the opening of the railway has increased the number of worshippers from all over the country coming to Lhasa. It also advantages Tibetans with accessibility to the rest part of China for tertiary education, employment, and market for local industries.^[33] Qiangba Puncog, former Chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region People's Government, has appreciated the railway for introducing more tourism industries to the region with jobs for the local people.^[34]

Environmental

The environmental impact of the new railway is an ongoing concern. The increase in passenger traffic will result in greater tourism and economic activity on the Tibetan Plateau, and the construction of the railway may also negatively impact the local environment. For example, interference on earth, vegetation, and surface water heat exchange, which may cause freeze-thaw erosion and melting of ice if not handled properly.^[35] To reduce the interference, trash and excrement on the trains are collected into two sealed containers in each car, instead of disposing them on the tracks, and are taken out at large stations.^[36] There are also concerns from the China Meteorological Administration that melting, due to global warming, of the permafrost in Tibet on which part of the railway is placed may threaten the railway within the 21st century.^[37]

The effects of this railway on wild animals such as Tibetan antelope and plants are currently unknown. 33 wildlife crossing railway bridges were constructed specifically to allow continued animal migration.

Military

Commentators have noted the potential military impact of this railway as permitting the People's Liberation Army more rapid troop mobilization to certain border areas in dispute with India.^[38]

Rolling stock

• 361 Bombardier Sifang Power (Qingdao) Transportation Ltd./Power Corporation of Canada/China South Locomotive and Rolling Stock Industry (Group) Corporation High-Grade Coach – 308 standard cars and 53 special tourist cars
• GE Transportation NJ2 locomotive (78 GE designation C38AChe locomotives were built)
• CSR Qishuyan & CSR Ziyang Locomotive Factory DF8B-9000 series and DF8BJ locomotive – similar to the Bombardier Transportation-GE Transportation Blue Tiger diesel electric locomotive; production of DF8B-9000 series were suspended by former Chinese corrupted official Liu Zhijun in favor of GE and EMD locomotives
• CNR Erqi Locomotive DF7G-8000 series locomotive
• CRRC Dalian HXN3 locomotive^[39]

Scenery along the railway

Since the opening of Qingzang Railway, scenery as viewed from the railway has become internationally famous:^[40][41][42]

Gallery

• 
  Xining railway station
• 
  Qinghai Lake
• 
  Bridge over the Tongtian River
• 
  Golmud railway station
• 
  Tanggula railway station
  5,068 meters above sea level
• 
  Tanggula Mountains
• 
  Bridge on permafrost horizon
• 
  Tsonag Lake
• 
  Nyenchen Tanglha Mountains
• 
  Lhasa railway station

See also

• List of highest railways
• Sichuan–Tibet railway

References

36. Xining to Lhasa Train schedule & price - Travel Tibet China

• M.W.H., Railroad in the clouds, Trains March 2002
• Forbes – The Tibet Train: Rocket To The Roof

Further reading

• Brunn, Stanley D. (6 April 2011). Engineering Earth: The Impacts of Megaengineering Projects Engineering Earth: The Impacts of Megaengineering Projects (Hardcover) (2011th ed.). New York: Springer. p. 2466. ISBN 978-9048199198.
• Lu, Ming; Li, Charlie C. (19 June 2006). In-situ rock stress: measurement, interpretation and application: proceedings of the International Symposium on In-situ Rock Stress (Hardcover). Trondheim, Norway: Balkema; Taylor & Francis. p. 552. ISBN 0415401631. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
• Oberlander, Christian (2008). Die Quinghai-Tibet-Bahn und ihre Auswirkungen auf China und die tibetische Minderheit (Print) (in German). Studienarbeit, München: GRIN-Verl. p. 40. ISBN 978-3-638-92379-8.

External links

World's highest railway links Tibet to rest of China at Wikinews Media related to Qinghai-Tibet Railway at Wikimedia Commons