Which railway is the world’s highest, crossing the Tibetan Plateau to reach Lhasa?

The Qinghai–Tibet Railway is the world’s highest railway, crossing the Tibetan Plateau to reach Lhasa.

The line runs from Xining in Qinghai province to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet. Its highest point is at Tanggula Pass, about 5,072 metres above sea level. The railway opened in stages, with the final section to Lhasa beginning passenger service in 2006.

Construction required special engineering because of permafrost, thin air, severe cold and difficult terrain. Many sections were built on elevated foundations or other structures designed to reduce heat transfer into frozen ground.

The Qinghai–Tibet Railway is sometimes called the Qingzang Railway. It should not be confused with the nearby Tanggula railway station, which is the highest railway station rather than the name of the entire line.