Sichuan–Tibet railway
The Sichuan–Tibet railway, Sichuan–Xizang railway or Chuanzang railway (simplified Chinese: 川藏铁路; traditional Chinese: 川藏鐵路; pinyin: Chuānzáng Tiělù) is a high-elevation railway under construction that will connect Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan, and Lhasa, the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region.[1] The line will be 1,629 km (1,012 mi) long and is projected to cost 250 billion yuan (US$36.88 billion).[2][3]
Sichuan–Tibet railway | |
---|---|
Overview | |
Type | Heavy rail |
Status | Under construction |
Locale | |
Termini | Chengdu West railway station Lhasa railway station |
Technical | |
Line length | 1,629 km (1,012 mi) |
Number of tracks | 1 |
Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
Operating speed | 160km/h |
Overview
Chengdu–Ya'an segment
![](../I/m/201908_Sichuan-Tibet_Railway_Extension_from_Ya'an_Station.jpg)
The Chengdu to Ya'an segment begins at Chengdu West Station where it branches off from the Chengdu–Pujiang intercity railway. The 94-kilometre-long (60 mi) segment is electrified, double tracked, and has a design speed of 200 kilometres per hour (120 mph). It began operation on 28 December 2018.
Ya'an–Kangding segment
The Ya'an to Kangding segment is currently under construction. The 193-kilometre-long (120 mi) segment will be electrified and has a design speed of 160 kilometres per hour (100 mph).
Kangding–Nyingchi segment
The Kangding to Nyingchi segment is scheduled to begin construction in 2019. The 1,000-kilometre-long (620 mi) segment will be electrified and has a design speed of 160 kilometres per hour (100 mph). The route is expected to roughly parallel that of China National Highway 318. As this section contains some of the roughest terrain on the railway, construction from Kangding to Nyingchi is expected to last seven years.
References
- Chu. "China Approves New Railway for Tibet". english.cri.cn. CRI. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
- https://www.railwaypro.com/wp/china-to-complete-in-2018-the-first-section-on-worlds-most-challenging-railway/
- https://www.railjournal.com/in_depth/bridging-the-sichuan-tibet-gap