List of highest railways by country

Last updated

This is a list of the highest railways by country. It includes the name of the railway, its highest point and highest elevation and its opening year.

Contents

List

CountryRailway lineHighest pointHighest elevationOpened
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China Xining-Golmud-Lhasa Tanggula 5,068 m (16,627 ft) [1] 2006
Flag of Peru.svg  Peru Lima-Huancayo Ticlio 4,829 m (15,843 ft) [2] [3] 1893
Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg  Bolivia Rio Mulatos-Potosí Cóndor 4,786 m (15,702 ft) 
Flag of the United States.svg  USA Manitou and Pike's Peak Railway Pikes Peak Summit4,301 m (14,111 ft) [4] 1891
Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina Salta–Antofagasta Viaducto La Polvorilla4,220 m (13,845 ft)1948
Flag of Ecuador.svg  Ecuador Quito-Guayaquil Urbina3,609 m (11,841 ft)1908
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China Lanzhou–Xinjiang High-Speed Railway Qilianshan No.2 Tunnel3,608 m (11,837 ft)2014
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland Jungfrau Railway Jungfraujoch 3,454 m (11,332 ft) [5] 1912
Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya Uganda Railway Baringo County 2,785 m (9,137 ft)1930
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany Bavarian Zugspitze Railway [6] Schneefernerhaus 2,650 m (8,694 ft)1930
Flag of the Republic of China.svg  Taiwan Alishan Forest Railway Chushan2,451 m (8,041 ft)1986
Flag of Eritrea.svg  Eritrea Massawa–Asmara Railway Asmara 2,394 m (7,854 ft)1911
Flag of France.svg  France Tramway du Mont-Blanc [7] Nid d'aigle de Bionnassay2,380 m (7,808 ft)1909
Flag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia Addis Ababa–Djibouti Railway Addis Ababa 2,293 m (7,523 ft)2018
Flag of India.svg  India Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Ghum 2,257 m (7,405 ft)1880
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain Vall de Núria [8] Vall de Núria Rack Railway 1,968 m (6,457 ft)1931
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Skitube Bullock Terminal1,905 m (6,250 ft)1987
Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka Main Line (Sri Lanka) Pattipola 1,892 m (6,207 ft) [9] [10] 1894
Flag of Austria.svg  Austria Schneeberg Railway [11] Hochschneeberg 1,792 m (5,879 ft)1897
Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia Borjomi-Bakuriani Bakuriani 1,650 m (5,413 ft)1902
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Brenner Line [12] Brenner 1,371 m (4,498 ft)1867
Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia Tatra Electric Railway Štrbské Pleso 1,350 m (4,429 ft)1896
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan Koumi Line Nobeyama 1,346 m (4,416 ft)1935
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada Canadian Pacific Railway Mountain Subdivision Rogers Pass 1,330 m (4,364 ft)1889
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia Baikal-Amur Mainline Mururin Pass  [ ru ]1,323 m (4,341 ft)1984
Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria Septemvri-Dobrinishte narrow gauge line [13] Avramovo1,267 m (4,157 ft)1939
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway Bergen Line Finse 1,222 m (4,009 ft) [14] 1908
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom Snowdon Mountain Railway Snowdon Summit1,065 m (3,494 ft)1896
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic Strakonice-Volary line Kubova Huť 997 m (3,271 ft)1893
Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea Taebaek Line Chujeon901 m (2,956 ft) [15] 1973
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland Izera railway Szklarska Poręba (Jakuszyce)886 m (2,907 ft) [16] 1902
Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal Linha do Tua Rossas railway station 849 m (2,785 ft) [17] 1906 [note 1] [note 2]
Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia Padalarang-KasugihanNagreg848 m (2,782 ft)1890
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand North Island Main Trunk Waiouru 832 m (2,730 ft)1908
Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia Ljubljana–Trieste [18] [19] Postojna Gate 610 m (2,001 ft)1856
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden Mittbanan [20] Near Storlien 601 m (1,972 ft)
Flag of Liechtenstein.svg  Liechtenstein Feldkirch–Buchs [21] Near Schaanwald 452 m (1,483 ft)1872
Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Mallow–Tralee line [22] Near Rathmore 150 m (492 ft)1853

See also

Notes

  1. Opening year of the highest-point stretch; the opening year of the railway's first stretch was 1887.
  2. Highest-point stretch closed in 1992; railway fully closed in 2008.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pikes Peak Cog Railway</span> Tourist cog railway to Pikes Peak, Colorado

The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway is a cog railway that climbs one of the most iconic mountains in the United States, Pikes Peak in Colorado. The base station is in Manitou Springs, near Colorado Springs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sri Lanka Railways</span> Sri Lankan government-owned railway

The Sri Lanka Railway Department is Sri Lanka's railway owner and primary operator. As part of the Sri Lankan government, it is overseen by the Ministry of Transport. Founded in 1858 as the Ceylon Government Railway, it operates the nation's railways and links Colombo with other population centres and tourist destinations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Postojna railway station</span>

Postojna railway station is a significant railway station in Postojna, Slovenia. It is located on the main railway line between Ljubljana, Slovenia and Trieste, Italy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kolkata Metro Line 1</span> Transit line of rapid transport in Kolkata, India

The Line 1, Blue Line, also known as North–South Metro of the Kolkata Metro, is a rapid transit system serving Kolkata in Indian state of West Bengal. It consists of 26 operational stations from Dakshineswar to Kavi Subhash. Nine of the stations are elevated, 2 at-grade and the remaining 15 are underground, with a total distance of 32.13 km (19.96 mi). The line connects Dakshineswar and New Garia and uses 5 ft 6 in broad gauge rolling stock. Dakshineswar was opened on 22 February 2021 is an elevated station located 4.1 km (2.5 mi) north of Noapara. It was the first underground railway to be built in India, with the first operations commencing in October 1984 and the full stretch that was initially planned being operational by February 1995. On 28 December 2010, it became the 17th zone of the Indian Railways. Being the country's first, and a completely indigenous process, the construction of the Kolkata Metro was more of a trial-and-error affair, in contrast to the Delhi Metro, which has seen the involvement of numerous international consultants. As a result, it took nearly 23 years to completely construct around 15 km (9.3 mi) underground railway from Birpara up to Tollygunge Metro Station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort railway station</span> Railway station in Colombo, Sri Lanka

Fort railway station is a major rail hub in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The station is served by Sri Lanka Railways, with many inter-city and commuter trains entering each day. Fort Station is the main rail gateway to central Colombo; it is the terminus of most intercity trains in the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jaffna railway station</span> Railway station in Jaffna, Sri Lanka

Jaffna railway station is a railway station in the city of Jaffna in northern Sri Lanka. Owned by Sri Lanka Railways, the state-owned railway operator, the station is one of the busiest in the country, linking the north with the capital Colombo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern line (Sri Lanka)</span>

The northern line is a railway line in Sri Lanka. Branching off the Main Line at Polgahawela Junction the line heads north through North Western, North Central and Northern provinces before terminating at the northern port of Kankesanthurai. The line is 339 kilometres (211 mi) long and has 55 stations between Polgahawela Junction and Vavuniya. It is the longest railway line in Sri Lanka. The line opened in 1894. Major cities served by the line include Kurunegala, Anuradhapura, Vavuniya,Kilinochchi and Jaffna. The popular Yal Devi service operates on the line. The line was severely affected by the civil war and no services operated north of Vavuniya after 1990. Reconstruction of this section of the line commenced following the end of the civil war in 2009 and was fully completed in early 2015.

The Mannar line is a railway line in Sri Lanka. Branching off the northern line at Medawachchiya Junction, the line heads north-west through North Central and Northern provinces before terminating at the town of Talaimannar. The line is 106 kilometres (66 mi) long and has 11 stations. The line opened in 1914.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Batticaloa line</span>

The Batticaloa line is a railway line in Sri Lanka. Branching off the Northern line at Maho Junction, the line heads east through North Central Province and south-easterly through Eastern Province before terminating at the eastern city of Batticaloa. The line is 212 kilometres (132 mi) long and has 31 stations. The line opened in 1928. There were no services on the Polonnaruwa-Batticaloa stretch of the line between 31 October 1996 and 12 April 2003 due to the civil war. The Udaya Devi service operates on the line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Main Line (Sri Lanka)</span> Railway line in Sri Lanka

The Main Line is a major railway line in the rail network of Sri Lanka and considered by many to be one of the most scenic train journeys in all of Asia. The line begins at Colombo Fort and winds through the Sri Lankan hill country to reach Badulla.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coastal line (Sri Lanka)</span> Railway line in Sri Lanka

The coastal line is a major railway line in Sri Lanka, running between Colombo Fort and Beliatta, via Galle and Matara. Operated by Sri Lanka Railways, the line includes some of the busiest rail services in the country. The line has been extended to Beliatta on 8 April 2019 and is proposed to be extended to Kataragama, via Hambantota. With a designed maximum speed of 100 km/h (62 mph) between Kalutara and Matara, and a maximum speed of 120 km/h (75 mph) between Matara and Beliatta, the line is one of the fastest in Sri Lanka.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kandy railway station</span> Railway station in Kandy, Sri Lanka

Kandy railway station is a major railway station in Kandy, Sri Lanka. The station is served by Sri Lanka Railways and is the primary railway station in Kandy and one of the most significant in the central hills. The station sits on a branch of the Main Line, leading to the Matale Line.

The Puttalam line is a 5 ft 6 in broad gauge railway line in the rail network of Sri Lanka. The 133 km (83 mi) railway line begins at Ragama junction and runs through the major towns along the north-west coast of the country, through to Periyanagavillu. It has forty two stations along its length.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Khurda Road–Bolangir line</span> Railway line in India

The Khurda Road-Bolangir line is a rail line between Khurda Road Junction and Balangir which is under construction.

Uda Pussellawa Railway (UPR) or Udupussallawa Railway (Sinhala: උඩුපුස්සැල්ලාව දුම්රිය මාර්ගය Uḍupussællāwa Dumriya Mārgaya) was a 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) narrow gauge railway line that existed in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) between 1903 and 1948. The line connected Nanu Oya railway station with Ragala via Nuwara Eliya.

Mihintale line is a 5 ft 6 in gauge railway line in Sri Lanka which starts from Anuradhapura and ends at Mihintale, which was constructed in 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pattipola railway station</span> Railway station in Sri Lanka

Pattipola railway station is the 66th station on the Main Line, and is 226.8 km (140.9 mi) away from Colombo. It is the highest railway station in Sri Lanka with an elevation of 1,897.5 m (6,225 ft) high above mean sea level. The station has one platform with a second track as a siding loop. All the trains that run on the Main Line, including the Podi Menike and Udarata Menike express trains stop at the station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nanu Oya railway station</span> Railway station in Nanu Oya, Sri Lanka

The Nanu Oya railway station is the 63rd station on the Main Line, and is 206.9 km (128.6 mi) away from Colombo. All trains including Podi Menike and Udarata Menike express trains service the station. The station was a junction and branching point for the Udupussallawa narrow gauge railway line connecting Nanu Oya with Ragala via Nuwara Eliya.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Polgahawela railway station</span>

Polgahawela Junction railway station is a major junction station, situated in the Kurunegala District, North Western Province, Sri Lanka. It is the 34th railway station on the Main line and is 73.83 kilometres (45.88 mi) away from the Colombo Fort Railway Station, at an elevation of 74.39 metres (244.1 ft) above sea level. The station is located at the centre of Polgahawela and is a main junction point joining two railway lines; one coming from the upcountry of Sri Lanka and another from the northern part of the country.

References

  1. "World's highest railway station enters key construction period". Canada Tibet Committee. July 28, 2005. Retrieved December 6, 2012.
  2. Bennett, Suzy (October 2003). "A train journey through the Peruvian Andes". Wanderlust. Retrieved December 6, 2012.
  3. "Our Train - The Highest in the World". Incas del Peru. Retrieved December 6, 2012.
  4. Manitou & Pike's Peak Cog Railway. "Along The Route". Pikes Peak Cog Railway. Retrieved December 6, 2012.
  5. Jungfraubahnen. "Jungfraujoch - Top of Europe". Jungfrau Ski Region. Retrieved December 6, 2012.
  6. Ride the Zugspitzbahn rack railway up Germany's highest mountain
  7. "Tramway du Mont-Blanc (TMB) - Train à crémaillère - Ouvertures / Horaires / Tarifs".
  8. Insight Guides Great Railway Journeys of Europe, Spain's highest station. ["Núria is the highest station in Spain"]
  9. "Top 10 highest train stations in Sri Lanka". Train Journey to the Green Zone in Sri Lanka. Retrieved December 6, 2012.
  10. "Pattipola Railway Station of Sri Lanka". SariSara Sri Lanka. Retrieved December 6, 2012.
  11. Station Puchberg am Schneeberg, lower-austria.info. ["Fans of nostalgia can be transported in around 40 minutes by the Schneebergbahn to Austria's highest railway station"]
  12. SULMONA, AQ, ABRUZZO, magazine.dooid.it. ["At the Rivisondoli-Pescocostanzo station, the line reaches 1268 m above sea level making it the highest station on the Italian FS network after the Brenner Pass."]
  13. The Most Beautiful Train Journeys in Bulgaria, theculturetrip.com. ["It runs through three mountains and stops at the highest railway station in the Balkan Peninsula, Avramovo Station."]
  14. "Finse Railway Station Webcam – The Highest Station in Norway". Camscape. October 13, 2012. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved December 6, 2012.
  15. Korea Tourism Organization. "Chujeon Station". Visit Korea. Retrieved December 6, 2012.
  16. "Najwyższa linia kolejowa w Polsce - Szklarska Poręba". www.szklarskaporeba.pl. Retrieved 2021-05-24.
  17. Esteves, João Sena; Ramos, Luís; Nóbrega, João Miguel; Souto, António Pedro; Sepúlveda, Manuel João (2012). "Gaining Insight into Tua Railway Line through Interactive Experiments" (PDF). Railroads in Historical Contexts. 2. Universidade do Minho: 360. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
  18. Retrieved from the Google Earth geoinformation system. The highest point on the line is north of Postojna railway station, at the Postojna Gate
  19. "Rail network". slo-zeleznice.si. Slovenian Railways . Retrieved 30 April 2021. Station located at the highest point above sea level: Postojna station at 582m
  20. "Banverkets årsredovisning 2009" (PDF) (in Swedish). Banverket. 2009. Retrieved 2021-08-10.
  21. Retrieved from the Swisstopo topographic map (only line in Liechtenstein)
  22. Retrieved from the Google Earth geoinformation system