Taiyuan–Zhongwei–Yinchuan railway

The Taiyuan–Zhongwei–Yinchuan railway (Chinese: 太中银铁路) is a railway line in northern China, connecting Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi Province, with Zhongwei and Yinchuan in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. It is a double-track electric railway, opened in 2011.

Taiyuan–Zhongwei–Yinchuan railway
太中银铁路
A T70 passenger train from Beijing West to Urumqi North on the Taiyuan–Zhongwei–Yinchuan railway over the Wuding River in Suide, Shaanxi Province near the intersection with the Shenmu–Yan'an railway (Photo taken in 2014).
Overview
OwnerChina Railway
LocaleShanxi and Ningxia
Termini
Stations37
Service
TypeClass 1 main line
Operator(s)China Railway: Taiyuan Group, Xi'an Group, Lanzhou Group
History
OpenedJanuary 11, 2011
Technical
Line length945 km (587 mi)
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in)
Electrification50 Hz, 25,000 V
Operating speed160 km/h (99 mph)
Route map

km
Up arrow Shijiazhuang–Taiyuan HSR from Shijiazhuang
Up arrow Datong–Xi'an HSR from Datong South
0
Taiyuan South
Right arrow Shijiazhuang–Taiyuan railway to Shijiazhuang
Right arrow Datong–Xi'an HSR to Xi'an North
Zhongdingwuliuyuan (freight only)
Left arrow Taiyuan southwest ring line
61
Qingxu
72
Jiaocheng
86
Wenshui
103
Fenyang
Lüliangshan tunnel
(20,785 m)
Wucheng
Lishi tunnel
(10,236 m)
185
Lüliang
000km
Down arrow Lüliang–Linxian branch
000km
Dawu
Chegan tunnel
(11,818 m)
Sanjiao
Linjiaping/Qidao
Qikou/Renjiagou
Mengmen/Linxian
210km
Liulin South
Wubu Yellow River bridge
(866 m)
236
Wubu
Wubu tunnel
(12,310 m)
Right arrow Baotou–Xi'an railway from Xi'an
274
Suide
Left arrow Baotou–Xi'an railway to Baotou
304
Zizhou
Hengshan tunnel
(11,448 m)
Xingwangmao tunnel
(11,055 m)
415
Jingbian
520
Dingbian
623
Taiyangshan
Yanchi
670
Hongshibu
Lingwu
Left arrow Yinchuan–Lanzhou HSR from Yinchuan
702
Zhongning East
Right arrow Yinchuan–Lanzhou HSR to Zhongwei South
Yongning Yellow River bridge (3,942 m)
Zhongning Yellow River bridge (4,423 m)
Left arrow Baotou–Lanzhou railway from Baotou
Yinchuan
724
Huangyangwan
Right arrow Baoji–Zhongwei railway from Baoji
751
Zhongwei
Down arrow Baotou–Lanzhou railway to Lanzhou

Routing

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The main line of the railway runs in the general east-west direction from Taiyuan to Zhongwei via Lüliang and Dingbian, serving a number of communities in western Shanxi, northern Shaanxi and Ningxia, many of which previously did not have rail service at all. The Dingbian-Yinchuan branch runs from Dingbian northwest, to Ningxia's capital city Yinchuan.

The railway also has a short dead-end branch from Lüliang to Lin County (Linxian) in the northwestern Shanxi.

In some areas (a section of the main line east of Dingbian, and the Dingbian-Yinchuan branch), the railway route roughly parallels the Great Wall of China.

Service

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Together with the Shijiazhuang–Taiyuan high-speed railway, the Taiyuan–Zhongwei–Yinchuan railway provides a more direct route between Beijing and Ningxia than those that were available before. Together with the Zhongwei-Wuwei line in Ningxia and Gansu, it offers a shorter route between Beijing and Xinjiang than the more standard route via Zhengzhou and Lanzhou.[1]

History

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Construction started in May 2006. The railway was opened on January 11, 2011. It includes the 20 km (12 mi) long Lüliangshan Tunnel near Lüliang City in western Shanxi.

Rail junctions

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References

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  1. ^ 从北京西开往乌鲁木齐T69次列车时刻表 - schedule of Train T69, Beijing–Urumqi, using the Taiyuan–Zhongwei–Yinchuan railway (in Chinese)