Chengdu-Chongqing Railway
Encyclopedia
Chengdu-Chongqing Railway or Chengyu Railway , also known as the Chengyu Line, is a single-track, electrified
, railroad in the Sichuan Basin
of Southwest
China
between the cities of Chengdu
and Chongqing
. Chongqing's short form name is Yu (渝) and the railway is named after the two cities. The line has a total length of 505 km.
It opened in 1952 and was the first railway to be built after the founding of the People's Republic of China. Other cities along route include Jianyang
, Ziyang
, Zizhong, Neijiang
, and Longchang and Yongchuan.
A second railway line between the two cities, the Chengdu-Chongqing Passenger Dedicated Line, is now under construction, and will accommodate high-speed trains traveling at up to 350 km.
Viceroy Zhang Zhidong
as part of a railway from Sichuan to Wuhan
. Construction on this line began in 1909 and halted in 1911. Attempts to resume construction in1936 and 1947 ended with the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese War
and the Chinese Civil War
. On December 31, 1949, shortly after the Chinese Communists captured Sichuan from the Nationalists, Secretary of the Southwest Bureau Deng Xiaoping
proposed the building of the railway. Work began on June 15, 1950 and involved 30,000 People's Liberation Army
troops and 10,000 civilian laborers. More than 400 private steel mills in Chongqing supplied steel for the line. The line was completed on June 13, 1952, and entered into trial operation on July 1. It was the first railway line to be built in the history of the People's Republic of China.
In 1987, the Chengyu Line was fully electrified
, raising annual carrying capacity from 6.1 million tons to 13 million. By 2008, the line was transporting 90 million tons of cargo and 70 million passengers per year.
Railway electrification system
A railway electrification system supplies electrical energy to railway locomotives and multiple units as well as trams so that they can operate without having an on-board prime mover. There are several different electrification systems in use throughout the world...
, railroad in the Sichuan Basin
Sichuan basin
The Sichuan Basin is a lowland region in southwestern China. Despite its historical name, it is not only synonymous to Sichuan province, comprising its central and eastern portions as well as part of Chongqing Municipality...
of Southwest
Southwest China
Southwest China is a region of the People's Republic of China defined by governmental bureaus that includes the municipality of Chongqing, the provinces of Sichuan, Yunnan and Guizhou, and the Tibet Autonomous Region.-Provinces:-Municipalities:...
China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
between the cities of Chengdu
Chengdu
Chengdu , formerly transliterated Chengtu, is the capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China. It holds sub-provincial administrative status...
and Chongqing
Chongqing
Chongqing is a major city in Southwest China and one of the five national central cities of China. Administratively, it is one of the PRC's four direct-controlled municipalities , and the only such municipality in inland China.The municipality was created on 14 March 1997, succeeding the...
. Chongqing's short form name is Yu (渝) and the railway is named after the two cities. The line has a total length of 505 km.
It opened in 1952 and was the first railway to be built after the founding of the People's Republic of China. Other cities along route include Jianyang
Jianyang
Jianyang is a county-level city in Nanping prefecture in the northern part of Fujian province of the People's Republic of China.Jianyang has rich natural resources: bamboo, tea and water power.-History:...
, Ziyang
Ziyang
Ziyang prefecture-level city in the Sichuan Province, in south central China, with more than 300,000 inhabitants.- Subdivisions :-External links:*...
, Zizhong, Neijiang
Neijiang
Neijiang is a prefecture-level city in the Southeast of Sichuan Province, in southwest of China, with a population of about 4,200,000. It is located on the Tuo River and is a transportation and food-processing center...
, and Longchang and Yongchuan.
A second railway line between the two cities, the Chengdu-Chongqing Passenger Dedicated Line, is now under construction, and will accommodate high-speed trains traveling at up to 350 km.
History
A railway line between Chengdu and Chongqing, the two biggest cities in Sichuan, was proposed in 1903 by HuguangHuguang
Huguang was a province of China during the Yuan and Ming Dynasties. It was partitioned in the late Qing Dynasty, becoming the provinces of Hubei and Hunan....
Viceroy Zhang Zhidong
Zhang Zhidong
Zhang Zhidong ; Pseudonyms: Xiāngtāo , Xiāngyán , Yīgōng , Wújìng-Jūshì , later Bàobīng ; Posthumous name: Wénxiāng ) was an eminent Chinese politician during the late Qing Dynasty who advocated for controlled reform...
as part of a railway from Sichuan to Wuhan
Wuhan
Wuhan is the capital of Hubei province, People's Republic of China, and is the most populous city in Central China. It lies at the east of the Jianghan Plain, and the intersection of the middle reaches of the Yangtze and Han rivers...
. Construction on this line began in 1909 and halted in 1911. Attempts to resume construction in1936 and 1947 ended with the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese War
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
and the Chinese Civil War
Chinese Civil War
The Chinese Civil War was a civil war fought between the Kuomintang , the governing party of the Republic of China, and the Communist Party of China , for the control of China which eventually led to China's division into two Chinas, Republic of China and People's Republic of...
. On December 31, 1949, shortly after the Chinese Communists captured Sichuan from the Nationalists, Secretary of the Southwest Bureau Deng Xiaoping
Deng Xiaoping
Deng Xiaoping was a Chinese politician, statesman, and diplomat. As leader of the Communist Party of China, Deng was a reformer who led China towards a market economy...
proposed the building of the railway. Work began on June 15, 1950 and involved 30,000 People's Liberation Army
People's Liberation Army
The People's Liberation Army is the unified military organization of all land, sea, strategic missile and air forces of the People's Republic of China. The PLA was established on August 1, 1927 — celebrated annually as "PLA Day" — as the military arm of the Communist Party of China...
troops and 10,000 civilian laborers. More than 400 private steel mills in Chongqing supplied steel for the line. The line was completed on June 13, 1952, and entered into trial operation on July 1. It was the first railway line to be built in the history of the People's Republic of China.
In 1987, the Chengyu Line was fully electrified
Railway electrification system
A railway electrification system supplies electrical energy to railway locomotives and multiple units as well as trams so that they can operate without having an on-board prime mover. There are several different electrification systems in use throughout the world...
, raising annual carrying capacity from 6.1 million tons to 13 million. By 2008, the line was transporting 90 million tons of cargo and 70 million passengers per year.
Rail junctions
- ChengduChengduChengdu , formerly transliterated Chengtu, is the capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China. It holds sub-provincial administrative status...
: Baoji–Chengdu Railway, Chengdu–Kunming RailwayChengdu–Kunming RailwayThe Chengdu–Kunming Railway or Chengkun Railway , 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 long and traverses rugged terrain from the Sichuan Basin to the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. ... - NeijiangNeijiangNeijiang is a prefecture-level city in the Southeast of Sichuan Province, in southwest of China, with a population of about 4,200,000. It is located on the Tuo River and is a transportation and food-processing center...
: Neijiang–Kunming RailwayNeijiang–Kunming RailwayThe Neijiang–Kunming Railway or Neikun Railway , is a single-track railroad between Neijiang and Kunming in Southwest China. The line runs from Neijiang in Sichuan province to Kunming in Yunnan province through western Guizhou province. The Neikun Line was built in three sections... - ChongqingChongqingChongqing is a major city in Southwest China and one of the five national central cities of China. Administratively, it is one of the PRC's four direct-controlled municipalities , and the only such municipality in inland China.The municipality was created on 14 March 1997, succeeding the...
: Xiangfan–Chongqing Railway, Chongqing–Huaihua Railway