Chengdu–Kunming railway

The Chengdu–Kunming railway or Chengkun railway (simplified Chinese: 成昆铁路; traditional Chinese: 成昆鐵路; pinyin: chéngkūn tiělù), is a major trunkline railroad in southwestern China between Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province and Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province. The line is 1,134 km (705 mi) long and traverses rugged terrain from the Sichuan Basin to the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. The line was built between 1958 and 1970, with much of the work coming during the Third Front campaign to develop industry in China's interior. Major cities along route include Chengdu, Pengshan, Jiajiang, Emei, Ebian, Ganluo, Xide, Xichang, Dechang, Miyi and Panzhihua in Sichuan Province and Yuanmou, Lufeng, Anning and Kunming in Yunnan Province.

Chengdu–Kunming railway
Guancunba Station, on the old line next to the Dadu River (downstream of the Niuri River Valley), in Jinkouhe District, Leshan.
Overview
Other name(s)	Chengkun railway
Native name	成昆铁路
Status	Operational
Owner	China Railway
Locale	Southwest China
Termini	Chengdu Kunming
Service
Type	Heavy rail
Operator(s)	China Railway Chengdu Group China Railway Kunming Group
History
Opened	1 January 1971 (1971-01-01)
Completed	1 July 1970 (1970-07-01)
Closure of Huapengzi–Huangguayuan section of old line	26 May 2020 (2020-05-26)
Completion of new line	26 December 2022 (2022-12-26)
Technical
Line length	900 km (560 mi)
Number of tracks	2
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification	25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead line
Operating speed	200 km/h (120 mph)
New line km elev Baoji–Chengdu railway from Baoji 0 Chengdu 4 Bali Xi'an–Chengdu HSR from Xi'an North Chengdu–Chongqing railway to Chongqing 15 Chengdu East Chengdu–Chongqing ICR to Chongqing Chengdu South Chengdu west loop Chengdu–Guiyang HSR 32 Shuangliu 42 Gongxing to Chengdu North marshalling yard Hualongmen 54 Puxing Huilong'an ↑Chengdu／Meishan↓ →Min→ 66 Qinglongchang 77 Pengshan Chengdu–Guiyang HSR 85 Taihe 92 Meishan／Meishan East 102 Xiantan Chengdu–Guiyang HSR to Guiyang East 110 Simeng ↑Meishan／Leshan↓ 119 Wuchang 129 Macun original Chengdu–Kunming line 137 Leshan North original Chengdu–Kunming line destroyed in the 1970s →Qingyi→ original replacement track 145 Shuangfu 156 Emei Chengdu–Guiyang HSR (Emeishan branch) 160 Yangang Chengdu–Panzhihua section (part of the original line) Shawan South Fandianzi Ebian South Jinkouhe South ↑Leshan／Liangshan Yi↓ Teke Ganluo South Mantan Yuexi South Anluo Xide West Emei–Panzhihua railway Mianning Emei–Panzhihua railway Yuehua West Xichang West Youjun Huangshuitang link Huangshuitang South Dechang West Yonglang West ↑Liangshan Yi／Panzhihua↓ Miyi East link Miyi East Miyi East link Binggu East Yanbian old line Jinsha River Chengdu–Lijiang expressway Panzhihua–old line link Puda Panzhihua South Xianfeng ying ↑Panzhihua Sichuan／Chuxiong Yi Yunnan↓ Yongren Xinkang Yuanmou-Kunming section from Huangguayuan (part of the original line) Yuanmou West Yuanmou–Kunming railway Dashucun Longchuan Hangzhou–Ruili Expressway Dianwei Yuanmou–Kunming railway Guangtong–Chuxiong–Dali railway from Dali Guangtong North Lufeng South ↑Chuxiong Yi／Kunming↓ Shuangmeicun 1068 Wenquan Xinyamei Guwuliu freght yard line Kunming–Zhongyicun railway Anning line 1077 Dushupu 1086 Bijiguan 1091 Kunming West Yunnan Copper siding 1100 Kunming Shanghai–Kunming railway to Guiyang Nanning–Kunming railway to Nanning km

Chengdu–Panzhihua section
km elev Chengdu–Kunming railway from Chengdu 156 Emei Chengdu–Guiyang HSR (Emeishan branch) 160 Yangang Chengdu–Kunming double-track line (under construction) 170 Jiuli 179 Shawan 191 Zhenxi 199 Liugou Liugou branch (closed) 208 Daiwan 216 Yangxuan 225 Gonghe 232 Ebian Zhaoping No. 1 tunnel (3253 m) 243 Baicun 254 Jinkouhe Guancunba tunnel (6187 m) 263 Guancunba ↑Leshan／Ya'an↓ Liziwan tunnel (3008 m) 271 Changheba 280 Hanyuan →Dadu→，↑Ya'an／Liangshan Yi↓ Old line abandoned in 1984 Liziyida tunnel (1465 m) Liziyida bridge (destroyed by mudslide) Nainaibao tunnel (abandoned) 287 Niri Niri No. 2 tunnel (3555 m) 296 Suxiong 305 Lianghong 312 Aidai 320 Ganluo 328 Nan'ergang 336 Azhai 349 Baiguo 359 Baishiyan spiral 367 Yuexi 374 Tiexi 382 Xiapuxiong 389 Labai 396 Puxiong 402 Shangpuxiong 410 Ersaihe 418 Nibo spiral 427 Lewu 433 Hongfeng Shamalada tunnel (6383 m) high point on line 2244 m 441 Shamalada spiral 449 Wazu 457 Tiekou spiral 466 Xinliang 474 Lianhexiang 483 Xide 494 Mianshan 503 Xintiecun 509 Mianning Xichang Satellite Launch Center siding 519 Manshuiwan 527 Yuehua 536 Lizhou 548 Xichang North 557 Xichang 562 Xichang South 570 Jingjiu 580 Huanglianguan 589 Huangshuitang link to Chengdu–Kunming double-track line (under construction) 597 Mali 606 Huangjiaba 615 Dechang 625 Xiaogao 635 Leyao 643 Puba 654 Yonglang ↑Liangshan Yi／Panzhihua↓ 664 Wanqiu 674 Qinggang 682 Shaba Chengdu–Kunming double-track line (under construction) Miyi link Miyi East Chengdu–Kunming double-track line 691 Miyi 698 Binggu ／Binggu East 709 Yakou 716 Zaozilin 727 Tongzilin 737 Niupingzi Dukou branch to Geliping 742 Sanduizi →Jinsha→ 749 Panzhihua Panzhihua link line 759 Yizi 771 Lazha 784 Huapengzi dismantled for the construction of the Wudongde Dam (see Yuanmou–Kunming railway) km

Yuanmou–Kunming section
km elev northern part of original Chengdu–Kunming line (Emei–Panzhihua railway) 784 Huapengzi dismantled and flooded by the Wudongde Dam between Huapengzi and Huangguayuan in 2020 Liande tunnel (4602m) 798 Xinjiang 806 Shizhuang ↑Panzhihua, Sichuan／Chuxiong Yi, Yunnan↓ 817 Dawanzi 830 Hongjiang 840 Huangguayuan 851 Yuanmou Chengdu–Kunming railway (see {{double-track line}}) Yuanmou West Chengdu–Kunming double-track line 864 Yindi 870 Xiaoyuejiu 880 Yangjiuhe 890 Xiaocun Bagele spiral 901 Ananzhuang →Longchuan→ 912 Longgudian Fala spiral 920 Heijing 925 Dianxin 934 Longtangba Chengdu–Kunming double-track line 943 Dianwei Guangtong–Chuxiong–Dali railway from Dali Guangtong–Dali railway from Dali 947 Guangtong／Guangtong North Chengdu–Kunming double-track line 956 Dajiuzhuang 961 Tashizui 969 Yipinglang 974 Yubacun 984 Mimalong 989 Lufeng 998 Tanghai 1008 Xiaoluxi 1019 Dade 1025 Gaoloufang 1034 Qinfengying 1040 Zerunli ↑Chuxiong Yi／Kunming↓ 1050 Qinglongsi 1061 Muyangcun Chengdu–Kunming double-track line 1068 Wenquan Chengdu–Kunming double-track line to Kunming km

Fala Spiral of Chengdu–Kunming railway

A memorial for workers who lost their lives in the construction of the railway in Jianshui County.

Construction of a largely new double-track line started in 2010 and was completed on 26 December 2022. A northern section of the old line was called the Emei–Panzhihua railway, but since the completion of the new line has been called the Chengdu–Panzhihua (shortened to Chengpan) section of the line and a southern section was called the Yuanmou–Kunming railway, but is now called the Yuanmou-Kunming section of the line.

History

The construction of the Luosuoguan Anning River Bridge on the Emei–Miyi double-track section in northern Dechang County, Sichuan, in August 2019.

Planning of the Chengdu–Kunming railway began in 1952 with several routes under consideration. An eastern route would have run via Neijiang, Zigong, Yibin, Shuifu, Yanjin. Yiliang, Malong and Songming. A central route would have taken a similar route as far as Yibin and continued via Pingshan, Suijiang, Yongshan, Daguan, Qiaojia, Huize, Dongchuan and Songming. A western route would run via Meishan, Leshan, Ebian Yi, Ganluo, Xide, Xichang, Dechang, Huili and Guangtong. Soviet advisers recommended the central route as they considered the western route to be too difficult to build, because of its geography and geology, and that it could not be maintained because it would be prone to flooding, mudslides and earthquakes. Nevertheless, a committee headed by Zhou Enlai preferred the western route and this was eventually confirmed. It was considered to give access to important mineral deposits, passed through areas inhabited by ethnic minorities and had advantages for national defence.

The eastern route was later used for much of the Neijiang–Kunming railway, which was completed in 2001. The central route has similarities to the route of the under construction Chongqing–Kunming high-speed railway.

Construction began in 1958 during the Great Leap Forward and expanded to full-scale in 1964. Much of the construction occurred as a focus of the Third Front campaign to develop basic industry and national defense industry in China's interior; this campaign was accelerated when fears of possible American invasion increased after the Gulf of Tonkin incident. The only rail connection to Kunming at that time ran through North Vietnam. In July 1970, the line was completed and entered into operation in January 1971. Because it was built as part of the secretive Third Front campaign pursuant to the view that it had to be kept hidden from China's geopolitical rivals, completion of the railway was not announced or promoted.

The government published a pictorial in 1976 showing pictures of the construction and extreme terrain that required hundreds of tunnels and bridges. Building conditions were hazardous and 2,100 workers perished during the construction of the original line.

On August 30, 2000, the entire line was electrified.

Aside from Chengdu and Kunming, the old line had a total of 122 stations, although many of these are now closed for passengers and some for freight operations. Four stations on either side of the Jinsha River (Yangtze) crossing were inundated by the Wudongde Dam in 2020.

On 14 August 2019, a major landslide occurred near Adai station, killing 17 staff involved in rescue and disaster relief. After emergency repairs on the affected section, freight trains and daytime passenger trains resumed operation on 25 October and 2 December of the same year respectively. It was decided to build the 1.5-kilometre-long (0.93 mi) Yandai Tunnel to avoid the landslide-affected section. The project started on 7 September 2019. It was suspended due to the 2020 Lunar New Year holiday and the impact of the Covid 19 epidemic. It resumed on 10 February 2020 and was completed on 9 March and 26 April.

Cultural significance

Academic Covell F. Meyskens writes that the Chengdu-Kunming railway serves as a symbol of the Communist Party's technical ability to remake the Chinese landscape in accord with its own vision, comparing its function in this regard to the Ten Great Buildings.

Sculpture

Ivory carving of the Chengdu-Kunming railway presented as a gift to the United Nations on display at UN Headquarters in New York.

In 1974, an ivory sculpture commemorating the completion of the Chengdu–Kunming railway was presented as a gift to the United Nations and is displayed at the U.N. Headquarters in New York. The sculpture depicts the rail bridge across the Dadu River between two mountain peaks, with intricate details of passengers inside the train. The sculpture, 150 cm (59 in) in length and 110 cm (43 in) in height, was made from eight elephant tusks and weighs over 300 kilograms (660 lb).

Railway junctions

The Chengkun railway is a major trunkline in China's railway network and connects with numerous other railway lines including:

Sichuan Province

• Chengdu: Baoji–Chengdu railway, Chengdu–Chongqing railway, Dazhou–Chengdu railway

Yunnan Province

• Guangtong: Guangtong–Dali railway
• Kunming: Shanghai–Kunming railway, Nanning–Kunming railway, Kunming–Yuxi railway

Natural Disaster Vulnerability

Four sections of the railroad which pass through the Niuri River Valley, Manshuiwan to Xichang of the Anning River Valley, Jinsha River Valley and Longchuan River Valley are under the exposure of the vulnerable debris flow and landslide. Soviet experts used to make a prediction that the railroad "will be turned into a pile of scrap iron by violent nature even after it is completed" in the route design stage; An Imagery Analysis Service Note published by CIA in October 1971 made a statement that "[the railroad] will undoubtedly require more than the normal maintenance because of the rugged terrain it passes through" based on the detection of at least two replacement works of the destroyed tracks caused by landslides in the first year of its operation.

Upon operation, major natural disasters did not occur in the Anning River Valley and Longchuan River Valley section due to the considered route selection and adequate protection strategies adopted. However, the section through the Niuri River Valley that had a faster river flow—due to its short, steep channel and unstable valley side slope—was not given sufficient consideration during the construction period. Multiple incidents of debris flow have occurred in the Niuri River Valley section especially between Niri and Suxiong and between Lianghong and Aidai.

New line

In the early 21st century, with local economic growth, the single-track Chengdu-Kunming Railway had become congested. In order to create more capacity, the line was replaced by a double track-line with longer tunnels and viaducts, although the original track was generally retained as one of the two tracks between Chengdu and Emei. The new line is 900 kilometres (560 mi) long, with a design speed of 160 to 200 kilometres per hour (99 to 124 mph) and cost 55.2 billion yuan to build in total. Most of the new line runs near the old line, but on some sections of the route is significantly shortened and straightened. Therefore, the new line is nearly 200 kilometres (120 mi) shorter than the old 1,091-kilometre (678 mi) line. Trains now take only about 7 hours from Chengdu to Kunming.

Work on the new line commenced in 2010. Double-tracking of the section between Hualongmen and Pengshan was completed in June 2017. The final 384-kilometre (239 mi)-long section between Emei and Miyi was completed on 26 December 2022.

A northern section of the old line was called the Emei–Panzhihua railway (shortened to E-Pan railway), but changed on completion of the full line to the Chengdu–Panzhihua (shortened to Chengpan) branch of the Chengdu–Kunming railway. A southern section was called the Yuanmou–Kunming railway (shortened to Yuankun railway), but is now called the Yuanmou-Kunming section of the line. The section of the old line between Huapengzi (south of Panzhihua) and Huangguayuan (north of Yuanmou) has been closed and flooded by the Wudongde Dam.

The new line is designed mainly for freight. It is proposed that high-speed passenger services between Chengdu and Kunming will be provided by the Chengdu–Chongqing intercity railway (completed in 2015) from Chengdu to Neijiang North, the Chengdu–Yibin high-speed railway (opened in 2023) from Chengdu East to Yibin, and the Chongqing–Kunming high-speed railway (approved by the National Development and Reform Commission in 2019) from Yibin to Kunming.

See also

• Daliang Mountains
• List of railways in China
• 1981 Chengdu–Kunming rail crash

External links

• Media related to Chengdu-Kunming Railway at Wikimedia Commons
• |CCTV-10 Documentary on the construction of the Chengkun railway