(Source:  Raman’s Strategic Analysis & Wikipedia)

On April 11,2011, the Government-controlled Xinhua news agency of China has disseminated from Lhasa a report on the construction of a fast rail line to connect Lanzhou, the capital of the Gansu province, with Urumqi, the capital of the Xinjiang province. The construction of this line, capable of carrying trains moving at 300 KMs an hour, was started in 2009 and is due to be completed in 2015. The Xinhua despatch has quoted some Chinese analysts as viewing the line as significant more from the national security and political angle than from the economic perspective.Though the Xinhua has not spelt it out in such terms, it should be apparent that the railway line will help strengthen Beijing’s control over the Tibetan and Uighur-inhabited areas of the country (11-4-11).

Some of the key highlights of this rail line as reported in the Xinhua report:

• This rail line will connect Lanzhou, capital of Gansu Province, with Urumqi, capital of northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
• China Railway 20th Group Co., Ltd., is in charge of the construction, which began in 2009.
• Wages for construction workers is also double compared to the construction in the flatlands (due to tough  working conditions in high-altitudes)
• According to Wikipedia, the rail tracks in the section near Qilianshan Tunnel will be at 3,858 meters above sea level^[3], making it the highest high-speed rail track in the world.
• Trains will run at 350 kilometres per hour on the line.^[4][5]

Click here to read the full text of the Xinhua dispatch.

Editor’s note:  Though the pursuit of China’s high-speed in this northwestern region is discussed from the militaristic and national security-oriented perspective, it offers a glimpse of the national leadership’s desire to connect the vast outlying remote areas of rural China.  This offers an swift and safe access route for people and goods to flow between these regions and the big centers of trade/commerce and manufacturing situated along the coast line in the Eastern part of the country.  It is amazing to see how steadfast is the Communist leadership in its commitment to build this national strategic infrastructure asset.