Lanzhou-Chongqing railway progressing smoothly in disaster-stricken areas

Reporters learned from “Lan Yu Railway Corporation” that work on the most critical phase in the construction of the Lanzhou-Chongqing railway, involving the extra-long West Qinling tunnel in the earthquake-stricken area of Longnan, is progressing smoothly.

The Lanzhou-Chongqing railway, which runs through Gansu, Sichuan, and Chongqing, is an important rail link connecting northwest and southwest China, and a strategic transport trunk line planned for the “Eleventh Five-Year Plan” period. Along with the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, it is a land-developing trunk line in western China, and a large-capacity international line for convenient and quick passenger and freight transport between northwest and southwest China.

On the eve of the first anniversary of the Wenchuan earthquake, Liu Zhongren, Deputy GM of “Lan Yu Railway Corporation” was at the West Qinlin tunnel construction site in Wudu district of Longnan city, the disaster-stricken area of Gansu Province. He said, the “Construction of the West Qinling tunnel has progressed smoothly since the beginning of last September. And the railway construction from Xiaguanying, Lanzhou in Gansu to Guangyuan in Sichuan, which started in February this year, is now already at an advanced stage.”

According to “Lan Yu Railway Corporation”, the West Qinling tunnel, which is 28.238 kilometers long, is the most critical part in the Lanzhou-Chongqing railway construction process, and the second longest railway tunnel in China. Its construction is scheduled to be completed within 65 months, after which the Lanzhou-Chongqing railway will commence the operation. The dual-line railway from Xiaguanying, Lanzhou in Gansu to Guangyuan in Sichuan, which is known briefly as the Xia-Guang section, has a total length of 463.074 kilometers and an overall project period of 72 months. It is the most difficult section in the entire Lanzhou-Chongqing railway construction project.

The West Qinling tunnel has both left and right lines, which are being constructed by China Railway Tunnel Group and China Railway 18th Bureau (Group). Liu Shikuan, China Railway 18th Bureau’s Chief Safety Director responsible for Work Area No. 1 of the West Qinlin tunnel of Lanzhou-Chongqing railway, was at the inlet construction site of the right line. He said, “The inlet of the right line now has a completed depth of 580 meters, representing an average 3.3 meters per day. More than 200 workers are working day and night in three shifts to ensure that project deadlines are met.” According to Xu Qiping, CPC secretary of China Railway 18th Bureau Project Headquarters of Lanzhou-Chongqing railway, at present the right line inlet of the West Qinlin tunnel has been completely excavated and timbered to a depth of 580 meters, with 490 meters of inverted arch casting and 383 meters of second lining. The Dianziping No.1 inclined shaft has been completely excavated and timbered to a depth of 1,055 meters, and has been bottomed to 995 meters. The Fanjiaping tunnel and Dayuanba transverse gallery and outlet are being prepared for construction, while ten bored piles have already been drilled in the Panjiagou Moderate Bridge

According to the China Railway Tunnel West Qinlin tunnel office director Zhou Zhou, the left line inlet has currently been excavated to a depth of about 760 meters.

Translated by LOTO