Golmud–Korla railway

Geku railway (Chinese: 格库铁路) is a railway connecting Golmud and Korla, in western China. Construction started in November 2014 and was completed in 2020.^[1] The length of the line is 1,214 kilometres (754 mi), joining Qinghai province and Xinjiang province. The investment is estimated to be CN¥36 billion (~US$6 billion). The line connects the Qinghai–Tibet railway and the Southern Xinjiang railway. It's the third railway connecting Xinjiang province with another Chinese province and the third line to Golmud after the Qinghai–Tibet railway and the 2019 Golmud–Dunhuang railway. It is part of the Taklimakan Desert railway loop, together with sections of the Hotan–Ruoqiang railway, Kashgar–Hotan railway, and Southern Xinjiang railway.^[2]

Golmud–Korla railway
Overview
Other name(s)	Geku Railway
Native name	格库铁路
Status	in operation
Locale	Xinjiang, Qinghai
Termini	Golmud Korla
Connecting lines	Qinghai–Tibet railway
History
Opened	2020
Technical
Line length	1,214 km (754 mi)
Route map Legend km elev Qinghai–Tibet railway to Xining 0 Golmud Ge'ermuhe line station Qinghai–Tibet railway to Lhasa 15 Golmud West Hexinongchang Xinyuecun 53 Tuolahai Tuolahai West 80 Dazaohuo Zaohuo West Zhongzaohuo 125 Xiaozaohuo Huangyangsu Shibayamauzutaka 169 Wutumeiren Dulishan 194 Nasuogela Qingshuiquan 222 Taerding Gansenhu 262 Gansen Gansen West Xiaojianshan East 302 Xiaojianshan Shatuliang Mangyahu East 338 Mangyahu Gangci 365 Dongchaishan Dawusi Yingxiongling 410 Youshashan Gasihu 439 Mangya Qigequan 486 Mangyazhen Hulunhe Qinghai Xinjiang 502 Yitunbulake Wuzunshao 529 Suoerkuli Jinyanshan 558 A'erjinshan A'erjinshan North Luotuoquan 603 Bashenkaogong Qimianfeng Wangta 649 Suzukesayi Caofangzi Shifangzi 690 Kuolabulake Tamuqie Milan East Luozhong–Ruoqiang railway to Luozhong 724 Milan 761 Aketashen 785 Ruoqiang (Qakilik) [zh] Hotan–Ruoqiang railway to Hotan Ruoqiang North Dunluke 829 Qiongtuer Taitemahu Luobuzhuang 873 Yangtake Wutong Liang Baihu 916 Alagan Wuyang Lijǐng 958 Kaerdaban Yingsu Weimake 1003 Tieganlike Daxihaizi Jinlu 1030 Tonggusiba 1057 Kuermuyi Maolahu 1082 Yingkulei Qiala 1111 Tieyizi Qunke Qiayanghe 1153 Yuli Xinier Xinier North 1167 Kaifaqu South 1191 Korla East Southern Xinjiang railway to Turpan 1252 Korla [zh] Southern Xinjiang railway to Kashgar km This diagram: view talk edit

Description

The railway crosses the Qaidam Basin, the Altyn-Tagh mountain range, and the Taklamakan Desert. As the third rail artery linking Xinjiang with neighboring provinces, the line cut travel time between the two places from 26 hours to 12 hours.^[3]

The railway generally follows the route of Qinghai Provincial Highway 303 (from Golmud to Mangya Lake 茫崖湖), China National Highway 315 (from Mangya Lake to Ruoqiang) and China National Highway 218 (from Ruoqiang to Korla).

A 24.6 km (15.3 mi) long viaduct crosses over the Karakoshun Lake.^[4]

The line is used for passenger travel and cargo such as petroleum products.^[4]

Xinjiang railway loop

Combined with the Hotan–Ruoqiang railway along the southern rim of the Tarim Basin^[5] (which opened on June 16 2022), the Kashgar–Hotan railway, the Korla–Kashgar section of the Southern Xinjiang railway, and the Ruoqiang–Korla section of the Golmud–Korla railway, railways now form a 2,712 km (1,685 mi) loop around the Tarim Basin.^[6]

History and development

With a design speed of 120 kilometres per hour (75 mph), the Qinghai section of the rail route launched on 30 June 2020 stretching 506.5 kilometres (314.7 mi) and 15 stations, with one pair of passenger trains and two pairs of freight trains per day at launch.^[7] The remaining section opened on 9 December 2020.^[8][9]

On 11 October 2021, service frequency between Golmud and Mangyazhen was increased to one train in each direction per day.^[10]

See also

• Golmud–Dunhuang railway
• Qinghai–Tibet railway
• Hotan–Ruoqiang railway