Detailed timetable for the Qinghai-Tibet Railway

Detailed timetable for the Qinghai-Tibet Railway - Public railway station with clock in center

I need to travel from Lhasa (拉萨) to Xi'an (西安) in early April 2018, and I'm thinking of travelling by train as the Qinghai-Tibet Railway is said to be spectacular. I particularly want to see the area around the Tanggula Pass, which at 5072m is the world's highest section of railway and is supposed to be particularly impressive, so I'd like to be sure I don't choose a train which passes through this area at night. The problem is, I can't work out when the trains pass Tanggula. There is a station at Tanggula, but either the trains don't stop there or it's too minor to appear in the timetables I've found. This timetable tells me that Nagqu / Nakchu (那曲) is 3½–4h out of Lhasa, and Golmud / Ge'ermu (格尔木) is 14–15h out. According to the list of stations on Wikipedia, Tanggula is about a third of the way from Nagqu to Golmud which would suggest it's reached about 7–8h after leaving Lhasa. If that's right then any morning departure should be okay as sunset will be about 20:10. But with so much elevation to gain, the climb up to Tanggula may well take disproportionately long. Is anyone able to help find a more detailed timetable that might address my concern?






Pictures about "Detailed timetable for the Qinghai-Tibet Railway"

Detailed timetable for the Qinghai-Tibet Railway - Interior of old Grand Central Terminal building with arched windows and ornamental ceiling over classic balconies
Detailed timetable for the Qinghai-Tibet Railway - Interior of classic Grand Central Terminal building with brick columns and ornamental walls over parquet on floor
Detailed timetable for the Qinghai-Tibet Railway - Black and white of old urban building with brick columns and ornamental windows



What kind of luggage is best for Qinghai-Tibet Railway?

For your convenience, we suggest you bringing one large suitcase and one carry-on bag.

How long is the Qinghai-Tibet Railway?

The length of the railway is 1,956 km (1,215 mi). Construction of the 815 km (506 mi) section between Xining and Golmud was completed by 1984.

When was Qinghai-Tibet railway line opened?

On July 1st, 2006, the world famous Qinghai-Tibet Railway was put into operation. At the beginning, only three train routes ran: daily trains running from Beijing to Lhasa and on alternate days between Chengdu-Lhasa and Chongqing-Lhasa, and between Xining-Lhasa and Lanzhou-Lhasa.

How high is the Qinghai-Tibet Railway?

The Qinghai-Tibet Railway is more than 4,000 meters (13,000 feet) above sea level for 960 kilometers (600 miles). Its highest point is Tangula Mountain Pass at an altitude of 5,072 meters (16,640 feet), known as the 'nearest railway to the sky'.



Engineering marvel: Qinghai-Tibet Railway




Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: Charlotte May, Charlotte May, Charlotte May, Charlotte May