Nyingchi to Lhasa Train will take only three hours, along with the beautiful scenery!

Tibet has always held sacred significance for many, with its heavenly proximity, stunning landscapes, and enigmatic legends. Its remote location and highland climate pose challenges for transportation, necessitating the construction of railways. The Qinghai-Tibet Line is renowned, and now, the Sichuan-Tibet Line brings exciting news. The Lhasa-Nyingchi section in Tibet will officially open on June 2019

Details about Lhasa Nyingchi Railway

Lhasa Nyingchi Railway is a 433 km national Class I fast railway, designed to reach speeds of 160 km/h. Construction began in 2014. It is a single-line electrified class with 34 new stations (17 in the initial period). Over 90% of the line is located at altitudes above 3000 meters, with complex geological conditions and a bridge and tunnel ratio of 74.66%. The line includes 120 bridges, and 47 tunnels, and crosses the Brahmaputra River 16 times. A total of 540 km of catenary and 791 km of additional lines were installed, along with 11 traction substations and 13,761 square meters of electric traction power supply houses.

Since gasification construction began on July 29, 2018, over 1,600 employees of the China Railway Electrification Bureau have participated in the building. To overcome low construction efficiency and difficulties in the plateau environment, builders have promoted the concept of mechanized substitution and developed new equipment such as a rigid suspension string processing platform, flip-mounted wrist arm pre-assembly platform, an automatic decoupling device for pillar assembly, mobile operation platform car in the tunnel, and dual-use operation platform car for highway and railway.

Eco-friendly Lhasa Nyingchi Train

To overcome the challenges of the plateau’s unique environment during construction, the China Railway Second Institute of Electrification focused on green energy-saving and ecological protection. They researched seismic design technology for complex mountain catenary systems in high seismic areas, as well as technology for electrified railway catenary systems in high-altitude permafrost regions.

The Lhasa Nyingchi Railway is a key project of the national “13th Five-Year Plan”. It offers superior traction quality and high speed compared to traditional railways powered by combustion engines. It utilizes electrified traction, providing green and energy-saving advantages. This railway is significant as it protects Tibet’s natural environment and promotes green development. 

It connects three important cities in Tibet: Lhasa, Shannan, and Nyingchi. It will enhance the investment environment along the route, promote new urbanization, and inject vitality into local economic and social development. The construction of this railway is challenging, with bridges and tunnels comprising over 75% of the entire line. However, it has reduced the travel time from Lhasa to Nyingchi from a day to just three hours. This also makes it an important tourist route for those visiting Tibet.

Benefits for Tourism in Lhasa and Nyingchi

Lhasa, with the iconic Potala Palace, is one of the most famous cities in China. Its serene atmosphere, snowy mountains, and grand palaces make it a popular choice for travellers visiting Tibet. Unlike other parts of Tibet, Lhasa’s altitude is relatively lower, reducing the physical discomfort caused by high elevations. Therefore, it is fair to say that Lhasa is the most significant tourist city in the entire Tibet region. However, one challenge that travellers often face is the vast size of Tibet. If they do not drive themselves, they must endure long journeys to reach many other cities from Lhasa.

The construction of this railway has partially addressed this inconvenience. Nyingchi City, a well-known prefecture-level city in Tibet, is located in the middle and lower reaches of the Brahmaputra River basin. Covering an area of 76,000 square kilometres, it is the most important city in this region. Nyingchi is renowned for its breathtaking natural scenery, including the stunning peach blossoms in spring and the majestic giant cypresses in the valley.

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