Qinghai-Xizang Railway transports 100 million passenger trips in two decades

XINING -- The first railway to give Xizang in Southwest China access to the national rail network has handled 104 million passenger trips and 824 million tonnes of cargo over the past two decades, the China Railway Qinghai-Xizang Group Co., Ltd. announced Friday.

Stretching 1,956 kilometers, the line linking Xining in Northwest China's Qinghai province with Lhasa, capital of Southwest China's Xizang autonomous region, went operational in July 2006.

The operator said the railway has maintained stable and safe operation for the past two decades, with steadily improved transport efficiency. Both passenger and freight services have seen remarkable growth, reshaping regional logistics and mobility patterns.

With improved railway services, new types of cargo, including cold-chain fresh products, e-commerce parcels and manufactured goods, have enriched supplies to the plateau region.

The once single railway line has evolved into an expanding high-altitude rail network exceeding 4,000 kilometers in total length, with multiple trunk lines still under construction, according to the operator.