As Tibet's first electrified railway, the Lhasa-Nyingchi Railway, which began operations in June 2021, ended the history of no rail service in southeastern Tibet and has become an accelerator for regional economic growth, injecting strong momentum into high-quality development in Tibet.
**Dedicated Service for Passengers** "Please take a seat first, and we’ll adjust when passengers board at the next station," said Wang Lei, the train conductor of the K6836 service from Nyingchi to Lhasa, on October 7, as he and the crew quickly arranged temporary seating for passengers sitting on the floor. At 29, Wang has worked on railways for a decade, progressing from an ordinary attendant to a conductor on the Qinghai-Tibet, Lhasa-Shigatse, and now Lhasa-Nyingchi lines. He understands the challenges of high-altitude travel intimately. "Our crew closely monitors passengers' physical conditions, offering as much care and service as possible," Wang explained. During peak travel seasons, attendants increase cabin patrols, paying special attention to those suffering from altitude sickness.
Like Wang, every conductor on the Lhasa-Nyingchi Railway brings extensive experience. Liu Wenjing, 36, transitioned from the Qinghai-Tibet Railway to the Lhasa-Nyingchi line in October 2021. Her team embodies the service philosophy of "sensitivity, attentiveness, and warmth." Initially, many local passengers struggled with language barriers, but now, more herders and farmers communicate in Mandarin, while attendants have grown familiar with Tibetan. Festive holidays also feature lively onboard activities.
**Precision in Safety Maintenance** In the quiet valleys, ultrasonic flaw detectors glide slowly along the rails as Sun Yongjia and his colleagues, clad in yellow workwear, inspect with unwavering focus. This marks Sun’s third year as a flaw detection technician on the Lhasa-Nyingchi line. His team conducts four full-line rail inspections and six turnout checks annually, along with quarterly inspections of arrival-departure tracks and monthly assessments of welded joints. "We examine every inch meticulously, leaving no minor flaw unchecked," Sun said. Twelve workers across two sections oversee over 400 kilometers of track, with just a four-hour nightly "maintenance window" to complete inspections—30 kilometers using dual-track detectors and 8–10 kilometers with precision rail flaw detectors.
High above the world’s highest and longest railway concrete-filled steel tube arch bridge, the Zangmu Grand Bridge, drones buzz as bridge inspectors conquer their fear of heights to conduct step-by-step checks. Each month, they scrutinize approximately 46,000 bolts using drones, telescopes, and manual inspections.
Spanning 435.5 kilometers with a 74.7% bridge-tunnel ratio, the Lhasa-Nyingchi Railway presents unique challenges. At the Gyaca Bridge and Tunnel Maintenance Section, where the average worker age is just 27, teams navigate the line’s longest tunnel, the Dagala Tunnel. Section chief Su Weiqiang noted that high-altitude inspections test both technical skills and physical endurance. Workers, tethered to safety ropes, calibrate overhead wires 5 meters above the tracks while the Yarlung Tsangpo River roars below.
"The overhead catenary is the lifeline of electric locomotives. Maintaining it here is a high-altitude battle against hypoxia and extreme cold," said Li Cunhong, head of the railway’s power maintenance team. As Tibet’s inaugural electrified line, the team upholds rigorous standards under "high-altitude, high-risk, and high-precision" pressures, ensuring operational safety and setting benchmarks for future high-altitude rail maintenance.
**Economic Opportunities Along the Line** "Village-grown chili peppers, walnuts, and apples can now reach markets in Lhasa and Nyingchi by train," said Dorje, a resident of Gong Village in Nyingchi’s Lang County. Previously, the six-hour drive to Lhasa and four-hour journey to Nyingchi were perilous. Now, the railway ensures safer travel and expands market access for local produce.
In Shannan, 27-year-old Renqing Quzhen runs a specialty store near the railway station. Initially restocking monthly, her business now thrives with increased rail traffic. The railway has also spurred development in remote areas like Gyaca County, where the Remi Industrial Park hosts Tibet Angel Zhufeng Biotechnology’s high-altitude probiotics project—a first for Tibet’s biotech sector—with output exceeding 20 million yuan. At full capacity, it aims to produce 200 tons of freeze-dried probiotics annually.
"Transportation was a key factor in choosing Gyaca for our facility," said Liu Yuan, the company’s general manager. The railway’s connectivity bolstered investor confidence, and future plans include leveraging rail transport to cut costs and enhance competitiveness. Gyaca has since attracted seven leading enterprises, fostering industrial clusters.
Tourism in Nyingchi has also soared, with visitor numbers jumping from 10 million in 2021 (8.4 billion yuan in revenue) to 15 million in 2024 (13.8 billion yuan), making cultural tourism a pillar of the local economy.