Qinghai–Tibet railway

Qinghai–Tibet railway
མཚོ་བོད་ལྕགས་ལམ།
青藏铁路
A train pulled by a pair of NJ2 locomotives travels on the Qingzang railway in 2008
Overview
StatusOperational
Locale People's Republic of China
Coordinates33°00′18.50″N 91°38′57.70″E / 33.0051389°N 91.6493611°E / 33.0051389; 91.6493611
Termini
Service
TypeHeavy rail
System China Railway
Operator(s)China Railway Qingzang Group
History
Opened1984 (XiningNanshankou)
2006 (NanshankouLhasa)
Technical
Line length1,956 km (1,215 mi)
Number of tracks2 (XiningGolmud)
1 (GolmudLhasa)
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
ElectrificationOverhead catenary 25kV 50Hz (Xining–Golmud)
Operating speed160 km/h (99 mph) (XiningGolmud)
100 km/h (62 mph) (GolmudLhasa)
Route map

km
0
Xining
5
Xiaoqiao
Xining–Datong railway to Datongxian
14
Xining West
24
Shuangzhai
35
Zamalong
48
Shiyazhuang
Huangshui River Tunnel
58
Huangyuan
67
Saruchu
85
Yuejiacun
97
Haiyan
Xi Haiyan railway to Xihaizhen
108
Huangcaozhuang
121
Ketu
133
Qinghaihu
143
Tuole
176
Haergai
Chaidar Railway to Chaidar
207
Gangcha
241
Niaodao
268
Jianghe
283
Junhe
293
Tianjun
Old line, out of use
299
Lumang
310
Tianjun (old)
322
Guanjiao
Old Guanjiao Tunnel
Guanjiao line group
333
Nanshan
345
Erlang
357
Rakuhoku
Chaka Railway to Chaka
368
Chanannuo
384
Doulansi
397
Gaba
406
Wulan
425
Keke
481
Taoli
517
Delingha
Laodelingha
573
Lianhu
581
Tosuhu
593
Quanshuiliang
604
Haoluge
628
Oulongshan
675
Yinmaxia
687
Izukichikai
698
Xitieshan
Xitieshan–North Hulsan Lake railway
711
Linshan
750
Dabusun on the Qarhan Playa
763
Qarhan
822
Golmud East
830
Golmud
Golmud South
857
Nanshankou
881
Ganlong
Kunlunqiao
914
Nachitai
937
Xiaonanchuan
Sancha River Bridge
955
Yuzhufeng
973
Wangkun
Kunlun Shan
Kunlun Mountain Tunnel (1686m)
1010
Budongquan
Qingshuihe
Chumar River Bridge (2565m)
1056
Chumaerhe
Kekexili
1100
Wudaoliang
Quwu
1138
Xiushuihe
Fenghuoshan
4905m
1174
Jiangkedong
1196
Ri'achiqu
1220
Wuli
1239
Tuotuohe
Yangtze River Source Bridge (1389m)
1260
Kaixinling
1281
Tongtianhe
1309
Tanggang
1322
Yanshiping
1356
Bumade
1380
Buqiangge
1404
Tanggula North
5072m
1421
Tanggula
1441
Tanggula South
1460
Za'gyazangbo
1499
Tuoju
1529
Amdo
1553
Cuonahu
1574
Liantonghe
1593
Diwuma
Gajiaqi
1632
Gangxiu
1655
Nagqu
Luoma
1691
Tuoru
1713
Sangxiong
1735
Gulu
Sangli
1775
Wumatang
Yongin
1815
Dangxiong
Ningzhong
1845
Daqiongguo
1864
Yangbalin
Yangbajing tunnel group
1881
Yangbajain
1901
Angga
1913
Maxiang
1930
Gurong
1953
Lhasa West
1956
Lhasa
km

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. 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; the remaining 1,142 km (710 mi) from Golmud to Lhasa started construction in 2001 and opened in 2006, making it the first railway line in Tibet. Passenger trains run from Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Xining, and Lanzhou, and can carry between 800 and 1,000 passengers during peak season.

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.

In 2022, the Chinese government announced 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.