Baoji–Chengdu railway

The Baoji–Chengdu railway, Bao–Cheng railway or Bao–Cheng Line was formerly designed as a rail line that connects Tianshui and Chengdu called Tianshui–Chengdu railway (simplified Chinese: 天水—成都铁路; traditional Chinese: 天水—成都鐵路; pinyin: Tiānshuǐ Chéngdū Tiělù) or Tiancheng railway (simplified Chinese: 天成线; traditional Chinese: 天成線; pinyin: Tiān Chéng Xiàn). The line is a mixed single- and double-track, electrified, 676-kilometer railroad in China between Baoji in Shaanxi province and Chengdu in Sichuan province. It is one of main lines that connects southwestern with northwestern China and a part of the Lanzhou–Kunming Corridor of the Eight Verticals.

The line finished construction on 12 July 1956, after which it began operating on 1 January 1958. The rail line is also the first one in China to be electrified. The Baoji–Guangyuan section of the line is under the control of China Railway Xi'an Group, while the rest is in charge of China Railway Chengdu Group. The railway was added to the List of China's Industrial Heritages for Conservation in January 2018.

Line description

The Bao–Cheng Line runs southwards from Guanzhong Plain to Sichuan Basin and traverses the Qinling, Daba Mountains, and Jianmen after leaving Baoji. The rail line goes through 5 different zones of geological structures (including granite, quartzite, greenschist, conglomerate and slate); around 80% are in the mountainous area. The line stretches along the ancient roads and Qingjiang River after entering the Qin Mountains, as the track elevates with a slope of 30‰ in the Renjiawan–Yangjiawan section; the steepest section can reach 33‰.