Beijing–Tongliao railway
The Beijing–Tongliao or Jingtong railway (simplified Chinese: 京通铁路; traditional Chinese: 京通鐵路; pinyin: jīngtōng tiělù), also known as the Shahe–Tongliao or Shatong railway, is a railroad in northern China between Beijing, the national capital, and Tongliao in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The line is 804 km (500 mi) long and runs northwest from Beijing Municipality through Hebei Province to southeastern Inner Mongolia.[1] The line was built between 1972 and 1977, and entered into operations in 1980.[1] Major cities and counties along route include Beijing, Luanping, Longhua, Chifeng and Tongliao.
Beijing–Tongliao Railway
京通铁路
In operation
63
Huairou North locomotive depot (CR Beijing)
Tongliao locomotive depot (CR Shenyang)
1 May 1980
804 km (500 mi)
1
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Overhead lines, AC 25 KV 50 Hz
(sections between Changping-Gubeikou, and between Chifeng South-Tongliao)
110 km/h (68 mph)
History[edit]
The building of the Beijing–Tongliao railway began in October 1972 and was divided into three phases.[1] The construction planning phase took one and a half year.[1] The main construction took four years and was completed on December 12, 1977.[1] The final phase to prepare the line for commercial operation took another two and a half years.[1] The line officially opened on May 1, 1980.[1] At the height of construction, more than 200,000 workers participated in the project.[1]
At the time of its construction, the railway was notable for being the second rail line, after the Beijing–Harbin (Jingha) railway, to traverse the Great Wall and connect northern and northeastern China.[1] Whereas the Jingha Line skirts the coast, the Jingtong line runs inland through the rugged Yan Mountains. The Jingtong railway has 116 tunnels that are collectively 78 km (48 mi) in length, including the 5,848 m (19,186 ft) Red Flag Tunnel.[1] The line also has 450 bridges that are 45 km (28 mi) in total length, the longest of which, the Laoha River Grand Bridge in Chifeng, at 1,447 m (4,747 ft) set a record length in China.[1] In all bridges and tunnels account for 15% of the line's total length.[1]