China–Nepal railway

The China–Nepal Railway (Chinese: 中尼铁路; Nepali: चीन-नेपाल रेलवे) is a planned railway between China and Nepal. The railway will link Kathmandu with Shigatse, Tibet, crossing the China–Nepal border at Gyirong–Rasuwa.[4]

China–Nepal Railway
Overview
Native name中尼铁路/चीन-नेपाल रेलवे
StatusPlanned
TerminiKathmandu
Shigatse
Technical
Line length72 km (45 mi) (Nepali section);[1] 556 km (345 mi) (Gyirong–Shigatse section)[2]
Operating speed120 km/h (75 mph) (Gyirong–Shigatse)[3]

History

In 2006, Qinghai–Tibet Railway, the first railway in Tibet, was completed. The same year, the then chairman of Tibet Autonomous Region Qiangba Puncog told the current Prime Minister of Nepal Khadga Prasad Oli, then Deputy Prime Minister, that the railway would be extended to Shigatse and eventually to China–Nepal border.

In 2016, during Oli's visit to China, the two countries signed a treaty on trade and transit, including a plan to build a high speed railway from Kathmandu to the Chinese border.[5] In June 2018, Nepal and China agreed on construction of the railway as a component of a series of cooperation projects approved by the two sides.[4][6] A mutual agreement over the pre-feasibility study was reached in August 2018.[7]

First extension of the Tibetan Railway, the Lhasa–Shigatse railway, opened in 2014. Construction of the railway from Shigatse to Gyirong is expected to be complete by 2022.[8]

Route

Existing Lanzhou-Kathmandu and Xi'an-Kathmandu freight routes involve cargo being carried by trucks from Shigatse through Gyirong border post to Nepal.[9][10][11] This first leg of the route starts from Lanzhou, a major freight hub in the Chinese railway network, to Xining over the Lanzhou–Qinghai railway (opened 1959), from Xining to Lhasa over the Qinghai–Tibet railway (opened 2006), and from Lhasa to Shigatse over the Lhasa–Xigazê railway (opened 2014).

Within China, the new railway, which will cross 556 km (345 mi) of Chinese territory before reaching the Nepali border, will mostly follow the route of China National Highway 318 after leaving Shigatse, passing through Lhatse, Sa'gya, Dinggyê, Tingri, and Nyalam. After reaching Nyalam, the railway will follow Highway 219 to Gyirong.

The Nepali section is 72 km (45 mi) long, and is considered one of the most challenging railway projects due to topographical issues of the Himalayas. 98.5% of the section will be bridges or tunnels. There will be four stations along the line, with the terminal at Sankhu in Kathmandu.[1] A further extension to Pokhara and Lumbini is planned.[12]

See also

References
  1. Giri, A; Giri, S (24 August 2018). "Nepal, China agree on rail study". The Kathmandu Post. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  2. Wang, Jun (13 March 2017). "西藏代表团建议：加快实施日喀则至吉隆口岸铁路建设". thepaper.cn. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  3. "西藏有望实现铁路市市通". State Council Information Office of China. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  4. Hu, Yongqi (22 June 2018). "Railway project to link Tibet, Nepal". China Daily. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  5. Adhikari, Deepak (19 September 2018). "Nepal gets access to China ports, analysts say it's a 'huge deal'". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  6. Pandey, Lekhanath (8 July 2018). "How a China-Nepal railway could fast-track change in the Himalayan nation and redraw relations with India". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  7. "中尼跨境铁路预可行性研究评审会及中尼铁路技术交流在西安举行". National Railway Administration of China. 24 August 2018. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  8. "The Tibet Train". Nepali Times. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  9. Devirupa Mitra (19 May 2016). "China's Freight Train to Nepal Is No Threat, But Indian Border Infrastructure Needs Fast Upgrade". The Wire. The international freight train will travel within Chinese territory until the current railhead of Xigaze (Shigatse) and then travel by road through Gyirong (Geelong) border post. The goods will take 10 days to reach Kathmandu (...)
  10. "Lanzhou- Katmandu freight train takes its inaugural trip". www.chinadaily.com.cn.
  11. "China launches road-rail freight service to Nepal from Xi'an | Railway". www.itln.in. Indian Transport and Logistics News.
  12. "Chinese rail to arrive in Nepal in five years, says minister". The Himalayan Times. 26 March 2018. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
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