The Southern Xinjiang railway or Nanjiang railway (), is a railway between Turpan and Kashgar in Xinjiang, China. The railway is in length and runs along the southern slope of the Tian Shan mountain range, connecting all major cities and towns of the Northern Tarim Basin, including Turpan, Hejing, Yanqi, Korla, Luntai (Bügür), Kuqa, Toksu (Xinhe), Aksu, Maralbexi (Bachu), Artux, and Kashgar.(Chinese) "12月6日：南疆铁路全线开通运营" Accessed 2011-01-21(Chinese) "南疆铁路" Accessed 2011-01-21
The line joins the Lanzhou–Xinjiang railway at Turpan (connecting to Ürümqi) and the Kashgar–Hotan railway in Kashgar. It also forms the Taklimakan Desert railway loop, together with sections of the Hotan–Ruoqiang railway, Kashgar–Hotan railway, and Golmud–Korla railway.
History The Southern Xinjiang railway was built from east to west. The Turpan-Korla section in the east (457 km) was built from 1974 to 1984. The western section from Korla to Kashgar () was built from 1996 to 1999. From Yanqi to Kashgar, the line follows National Highway 314. The Kashgar–Hotan railway, originally referred to as Phase III of the Southern Xinjiang railway, opened in 2010. From 2008 to 2013, the Korla to Aksu section, in length, was double-tracked.(Chinese) 南疆铁路库阿二线开通运营 全长526.9公里 2013-12-05
In December 2014, a second double-track electrified line between Turpan and Korla opened to commercial operation.(Chinese) 袁蕾, 吐库二线正式开通运营 南疆铁路进入电气化时代 新疆日报 2014-12-29 This new line, called the second Turpan–Korla railway, is in length. The line makes use of extensive tunneling to shorten the distance between the two cities by . The maximum elevation along route is lowered from to , and the steepest incline is reduced from 22.7‰ to 13‰. The longest tunnel along route, the Middle Tianshan Tunnel, is in length and one of the longest railway tunnels in China.
On 1 January 2021, a branch from south of Kalpin to Tumxuk was opened to passenger service. It is long and has a design speed of .
Station list Station Chinese Distance (km) Location TurpanLanzhou–Xinjiang railway 0 Gaochang Turpan Longpan Tiequan Zhenzhuquan Hongshanqu Toksun Toksun County Wangbu Burjiayi Yurgou Dabancheng Ürümqi Zulumutai Toksun County Turpan Kargante Xiageze Xingyuan Guoguang Hejing County Bayingolin Prefecture Alagou Kulin'aman Dedaigou Dewentuo Zhahesala Wusite Harge Shengliqiao Shangxinguang Xiaxinguang Haranggu Baluntai Husitai Daxigou Tianqiaonan Mogatu Hejing 369 Bakeshu Xingfutan Yanqi 400 Yanqi County Baorhai Ziniquan Tashidian Korla Yunya Korla 457 Kubei Kuxi Xiaota Kuluke Luntai County Yeyungou Cedaya Yangxia Talake Luntai Erbatai Kuqa County Aksu Prefecture Yakela Yaha Kuqa 740 Kuqa WestKuqa–Ehuobulake Railway Xinhe 779 Xinhe County Yisekesu Terxike Yangtake Kuduke Xianshuigou Wensu County Kalayurgun Paman Aksu 983 Aksu Sanjiaodi Jinyinchuan Kalpin Kalpin County Yijianfeng Bachu County Kashi Prefecture Bachu 1,200 Wudaoban Xiger Artux Kizilsu Prefecture Bapanmo Artux 1,410 KashiKashgar–Hotan railway 1,445 Kashi Kashi Prefecture
Rail connections Turpan: Lanzhou–Xinjiang railway Kashgar: Kashgar–Hotan railway
Gallery
See also
List of railways in China
References