Southern Xinjiang railway

Southern Xinjiang railway
南疆铁路
The Southern Xinjiang railway through the Tian Shan range in Hejing County
Overview
StatusOperational
Locale People's Republic of China
Termini
Service
TypeHeavy rail
System China Railway
Operator(s)China Railway Ürümqi Group
History
Opened1984 (TurpanKorla)
1999 (KorlaKashgar)
Technical
Line length1,930 km (1,200 mi)
Number of tracks2 (TurpanAksu; Double-track railway)
1 (AksuKashgar; Single-track railway)
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Minimum radius800 m (2,625 ft)
Electrification25 kV AC, 50 Hz (TurpanKorla)
Operating speed160km/h
Highest elevation2.2%
Route map

km
Bold names
stations currently handling
passenger traffic
143
Turpan
Toudaohe line station
Zhenzhuquan
212
Toksun
233
Wangbu
Aiweiergou Railway to Hongling
257
Yu'ergou
Yu'ergou–Yanqi branch
Boxinte
Tataer
Xinjingzi
Malan
Heshuo
Yu'ergou–Yanqi branch
Yanqi
Tashendian
456
Korla
Kubei
Kuxi
Tiemenguan
Shangku line to Shangku
Kuerchu
Yeyungou
Cadaya
Yangxia
Talake
790
Luntai
Erbatai
Yakela
Yaha
883
Kuche
Kuche–Ehuobulake railway to Ehuobulake
Kuche West
922
Xinhe
Yisikesu
Teerxike
Yangtakekuduke
Xianshuigou
1072
Kalayuergun
Paman
1126
Aksu
Sanjiaodi
Satema
Aksu–Aral railway to Aral
1191
Jinyinchuan
1240
Kalpin
Yijianfang
Qiaerbage
Tumxuk Railway to Tumxuk
1343
Bachu
Wudaoban
Xigeer
Bapanmo
1552
Artux
Kashgar North
1588
Kashgar
km

The Southern Xinjiang railway or Nanjiang railway (simplified Chinese: 南疆铁路; traditional Chinese: 南疆鐵路; pinyin: Nánjiāng tiělù), is a railway between Turpan and Kashgar in Xinjiang, China. The railway is 1,446 km (899 mi) 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.

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.