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China's largest railway project is under construction: discover the new railway that promises to be a landmark in modern engineering and outperform other countries.
China is once again pushing the limits of engineering with the construction of a new high-speed rail network heading to Xizang, a region known worldwide as Tibet. This ambitious project is not only the largest railway project in China, but also promises to be a landmark in the history of global engineering. The railway crosses challenging terrain, with extreme natural conditions that make each stage of the construction a true feat. This mega project It shows China's commitment to integrating remote regions, expanding its transportation infrastructure and proving that no geographical barrier is insurmountable.
China builds new 1.629 km railway
The starting point of China's new railway is just 300 meters above sea level, while its final destination, Lhasa, is over 3.000 meters above sea level, making it the largest railway project in history. Only the Nyingchi segment of the railway network is requires 47 tunnels and 121 bridges.
One of the most challenging stretches was the Milin tunnel, 10 km long. China is building a new railway that crosses areas with high temperatures in the Earth's crust, and factors such as large variations in temperature between day and night and extreme weather conditions are challenges that the country had to overcome.
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The New China Railway, also known as the Sichuan-Xizang or Chuanzang Railway, is a first-class high-elevation railway in China that, when completed, will connect Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet Autonomous Region. The railway will be 1.629 km long and will significantly reduce travel time between Chengdu and Lhasa from 48 hours to 13 hours.
The first segment of the railway, from Chengdu to Ya'an, went into operation on December 28, 2018. The second segment, from Nyingchi to Lhasa, opened on June 25, 2021.
Understand the difficulties of building the largest railway project
The final segment, from Ya'an to Nyingchi, is scheduled for completion in 2030. This is China's first new electrified railway in the Tibet Autonomous Region and the first high-speed line on the Tibetan Plateau. CR200J Fuxing series trains are used for the high-speed service.
According to Chinese media, the construction of the new Sichuan-Tibet railway network is extremely challenging. The line crosses an altitude difference of 3.000 meters, with the starting point in the Sichuan Basin just 300 meters above sea level, while the end point is 3.000 meters on the Tibetan Plateau. About 90% of China's new railways operate at altitudes above 3.000 meters.
China is building new railways, and the Nyingchi segment alone passes through the Yarlung Tsangpo River valley 16 times and required the construction of 47 tunnels and 121 bridges. One of the most challenging stretches was the 10 km long Milin Tunnel, which descends 1.200 meters below the top of a mountain range, located on average at 3.100 meters above sea level.
Largest railway project will cost US$44,77 billion
The 1.011-km stretch between Ya'an and Nyingchi will have 72 tunnels with a total length of 851km, including multiple tunnels over 30km long, with the longest tunnel in the Yigong railway network at 42,5km. China's new railway passes through areas with high temperatures in the earth's crust, making construction more difficult.
The total cost of the major railway project is estimated at around $44,77 billion. China is building a new railway that will significantly reduce travel time and increase connectivity between Lhasa and cities in the east of the country.
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