Nanning–Kunming railway

The Nanning–Kunming railway, or Nankun railway (simplified Chinese: 南昆铁路; traditional Chinese: 南昆鐵路; pinyin: nánkūn tiělù), is a single-track electrified railway in Southwest China between Nanning and Kunming, provincial capitals, respectively, of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Yunnan Province. The railway was built from December 24, 1990 to March 18, 1997 and has a total length of 898.7 km (558 mi), including the main line of 863.04 km (536 mi) between Nanning and Kunming and a branch line from Weishe Township of Xingyi City to Hongguo Township of Liupanshui municipality, in Guizhou province.[1][2] The Nankun Railway is a major rail conduit in Southwest China. Major cities and towns along route include Nanning, Baise, Xingyi, Luoping and Kunming.

Nanning–Kunming railway 南昆铁路
The Qingshuihe Railway Bridge of the Nanning–Kunming railway in Guizhou
Overview
Status	Active
Termini	Nanning Kunming
Service
Type	Heavy rail
Operator(s)	China Railway
Technical
Line length	898.7 km (558.4 mi)
Number of tracks	2 (Nanning–Baise) 1 (Baise–Kunming)
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification	25 kV/50 Hz AC overhead catenary
Operating speed	120 km/h (75 mph)
Route map km elev Hunan–Guangxi railway from Hengyang Nanning–Qinzhou railway from Qinzhou North 0 Nanning →Yong→ Nanning South Nanning–Fangchenggang to Fangchenggang 17 Jinjicun Hunan–Guangxi railway to Friendship Pass Yang Mei ←Zuo← Namwukang Dingdun Natong Shuangdeng Lianan Longan Yanjiang ←You← 113 Pingguo Nali Shanxin Silin Nahe Linfeng Tiandong–Debao railway from Debao 172 Tiandong Lunxu Naning Tianyang Powei Bao'an Liutang 234 Baise Yongle Xitun Liutang Tianding Wangdian 299 Tianlin Hongqitun Luchengxiang Yanlong Bantao Genlong Pinglincun ←Nanpan← ↑Guangxi／Guizhou↓ Badu Wendian Banqi Weiya 410 Ceheng Shitouzhai Shachangping Rongbai Baishuihe 454 Anlong Longguang Zhengtun 484 Xingyi Qingshuihe East Qingshuihe West 512 Pindian 517.491 ↑Nanning Group／Kunming Group↓ 520 Weishe Weishe–Hongguo railway to Hongguo ↑Guizhou／Yunnan↓ Datianbian Geju Chajiang Xiaodejiang Jiangsuotian 593 Luoping Yangzhewo Zhongzhai Xin'an 639 Shizong Yangcaodi Luliang Yinai Xijiekou Maoshezu 717 Shilin Shilin South Banmaoqing Yiliang North Leshancun Yongfengying Shijiazui Qidian Guangnanwei Wangjiaying West Yangbao Shanghai–Kunming railway to Guiyang, Shanghai 821 Kunming East 828 Kunming Chengdu–Kunming railway to Chengdu km

The Qingshuihe Railway Bridge (Qingshui River Railway Bridge) carries the railway across the deep gorge of the Quigshui River. It is one of the highest bridges in the world and the fifth-highest railway bridge. The bridge is 590 feet (180 meters) high and has a 420-foot (128 meter) main span. The bridge opened in 2000.[3]

The Nanning–Kunming railway provides the shortest railway connection between Yunnan Province and China's sea ports on the Tonkin Gulf, such as Fangchenggang and Beihai, thus playing a role somewhat similar to that played by the Kunming–Hai Phong railway before World War II.

Rail connections

• Nanning: Hunan–Guangxi railway
• Tiandong: the Tiandong-Debao branch (open 2010), primarily used by the bauxite mining industry.[4]
• Weishe (Xingyi): Weishe–Hongguo railway
• Kunming: Shanghai–Kunming railway / Neijiang–Kunming railway, Chengdu–Kunming railway

See also

• Nanning–Kunming high-speed railway
• List of railways in China

References

1. (Chinese) "南昆铁路开工" Xinhua 2008-12-05
2. (Chinese) "南昆铁路建成通车" China Radio International 2004-03-18
3. Sakowski, Eric. "Qingshuihe Railway Bridge" (Wiki). HighestBridges.com. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
4. 广西田德铁路开通运营两年 货物发送达２８０万吨, Xinhua, 2011-11-27