High Hopes as Tibet Railway Opens

The 1,956 km Quinghai-Tibet railway, currently the world's highest railway, was completed in July 2006. The extension from Golmud to Tibet required 960 km of railway construction valued at $4.2 billion (US) at altitudes of 4,000 m - 5,072 m above sea level. The author examines significant engineering challenges, including lack of oxygen and freezing temperatures, presented by such high altitude construction. Such challenges carry over into rolling stock, which is built for high altitudes in regard to systems such as oxygen delivery. Rolling stock includes standard coaches, generator cars, and luxury tourist service coaches. The line contains the longest railway crossing of a frozen earth plateau in the world--550 km. The Tibetan ecosystem, possible line extensions, and a possible trans-Himalayan link with India are all discussed.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/07445326
• Authors:
  • Barrow, Keith
• Publication Date: 2006-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: pp 15-16, 18
• Serial:
  • International Railway Journal
  • Volume: 48
  • Issue Number: 8
  • Publisher: Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation
  • ISSN: 0744-5326

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Ecosystems; Engineering; Environment; Freezing; Frozen soils; Oxygen; Railroad construction; Railroads; Rolling stock; Temperature; Tourism; Weather
• Uncontrolled Terms: High altitude
• Geographic Terms: China; Himalayas; India; Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (China); Tibet (China)
• Subject Areas: Environment; Railroads; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01055998
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 28 2007 11:07AM