China has rewritten the world’s history of railway construction with its completion of the world’s highest railway, the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, on the roof of the world. After reading the following key facts of Qinghai-Tibet Railway, nobody will be unconvinced that this railway is worthy of its name as a man-made world wonder.
The FIRST Railway to Tibet
The Qinghai-Tibet Railway is the first railroad to Tibet, linking Tibet with mainland China and ending Tibet’s history without rail.
The World’s HIGHEST Railway
960 kilometers of this railway lie at 4,000 meters above sea level, and its highest point is 5,072 meters, at least 200 meters higher than the former world’s highest railway, the Peruvian railway in the Andes.
The World’s LONGEST Plateau Railroad
The total length of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway is 1,956 kilometers from Xining to Lhasa. The Golmud-Lhasa section zigzags 1,142 kilometers across the Kunlun and Tanggula mountain ranges.
The World’s LONGEST Track on Frozen Earth
550 kilometers of the railway is built on frozen earth, the longest in any of the plateau railways on Earth.
The World’s HIGHEST Railway Station
Tanggula Railway Station located at 5,068 meters above sea level is noted as the highest train station on Earth.
The World’s HIGHEST Railway Tunnel
The Fenghuoshan Tunnel of Qinghai-Tibet Railway built at 4,905 meters above sea level, is the most elevated on frozen earth in the world.
The World’s LONGEST Plateau Tunnel
The Kunlun Mountain Tunnel with a total length of 1,686 meters is the world’s longest plateau tunnel built on frozen earth.
The World’s LONGEST Plateau Railway Bridge
With a total length of 11.7 kilometers, the Qingshui River Bridge, at an altitude of 4500 meters in the Hoh Xil unpopulated area, is noted as the longest plateau railway bridge in the world.
The World’s FASTEST Train on Frozen Earth
Upon its completion, the maximum speed of the trains to Tibet is designed to reach 100 kilometers per hour in frozen earth areas, and 120 kilometers per hour on non-frozen earth.
NO Worker Died of Altitude Sickness
Around 100,000 engineers and construction workers were involved in theconstruction of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, and 10% of them were from local ethnic groups. None of the workers died of altitude sickness during the construction.
More Statistics About Qinghai Tibet Railway
Qinghai-Tibet Railway is the world’s highest railway. Some 960 kilometers of its tracks are located 4,000 meters above sea level and the highest point is 5,072 meters, at least 200 meters higher than the Peruvian railway in the Andes, which was formerly the world’s most elevated track.
► The railway is the world’s longest plateau railroad, extending 1,956 kilometers from Xining, capital of Qinghai Province, to Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region. The newly completed Golmud-Lhasa section zigzags 1,142 kilometers across the Kunlun and Tanggula mountain ranges.
► About 550 kilometers of the tracks run on frozen earth, the longest in any of the world’s plateau railways.
► Tanggula Railway Station, 5,068 meters above sea level, is the highest railway station in the world.
► Fenghuoshan Tunnel, 4,905 meters above sea level, is the world’s most elevated tunnel on frozen earth.
► Kunlun Mountain Tunnel, running 1,686 meters, is the world’s longest plateau tunnel built on frozen earth.
► Upon its completion, the maximum train speed is designed to reach 100 km/h in the frozen earth areas and 120 km/h on non-frozen earth.
► Construction of the Golmud-Lhasa section of the landmark railway commenced on June 29, 2001 and test runs were on July 1, 2006.
► 1,686 meters: Kunlun Mountain Tunnel, running 1,686 meters, is the world’s longest plateau tunnel built on frozen earth.
► 4,905 meters: Fenghuoshan Tunnel, 4,905 meters above sea level, is the world’s most elevated tunnel on frozen earth.
► 45 stations: Altogether there are 45 stations along the rail line. Tanggula Railway Station, 5,068 meters above sea level, is the highest railway station in the world.
► 120 kilometers per hour: Upon its completion, the maximum train speed is designed to reach 100 km per hour in the frozen earth areas and 120 km per hour on non-frozen earth.
► 1,956 kilometers: The railway is the world’s longest plateau railroad, extending 1,956 kilometers from Qinghai’s provincial capital Xining to Lhasa in Tibet.
► 5,072 meters: Qinghai-Tibet Railway is the world’s highest railway. Part of its tracks are located 4,000 meters above sea level and the highest point is 5,072 meters.
► 550 kilometers:About 550 kilometers of the tracks run on frozen earth, the longest in any of the world’s plateau railways.
