List of highest railways in the world
A train pulled by an NJ2 locomotive travels on the Qinghai–Tibet Railway.
This article lists the highest railways in the world.[1] Before the opening of the Qinghai–Tibet Railway in 2006, a line passing through Tanggula Mountains and Tanggula Pass, the highest railways were located in the Andean countries of Peru, Bolivia and Argentina. The list only includes non-cable railways whose culminating point is over 2,000 metres above sea level.
For a list by country, see List of highest railways by country.
List
Completed
| Railway line | Highest point | Highest elevation | Country | Opened | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xining-Golmud-Lhasa | Tanggula | 5,068 m (16,627 ft)[2][3] |  China | 2006 | |
| Lima-Huancayo | Ticlio | 4,829 m (15,843 ft)[4][5] |  Peru | 1893 | Highest railway in America |
| Rio Mulatos-Potosí | Cóndor | 4,786 m (15,702 ft) |  Bolivia | ||
| Cuzco-Lake Titicaca | La Raya | 4,313 m (14,150 ft) | Peru | ||
| Manitou and Pike's Peak Railway | Pikes Peak Summit | 4,301 m (14,111 ft)[6] |  USA | 1891 | highest railway in North America |
| Salta-Antofagasta | La Polvorilla | 4,220 m (13,845 ft) |  Argentina  Chile | 1948 | "Tren a las Nubes" tourist service between Salta and La Polvorilla |
| Jungfraubahn | Jungfraujoch | 3,454 m (11,332 ft)[7] |  Switzerland | 1912 | highest railway in Europe, underground above 2,350 m.[7][8] |
| Gornergratbahn | Gornergrat | 3,090 m (10,138 ft) | Switzerland | 1898 | highest open-air railway in Europe |
| Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad | Cumbres Pass | 3,054 m (10,020 ft) | USA | 1881 | Highest narrow gauge railroad in North America |
| Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad | Silverton | 2,837 m (9,308 ft) | USA | 1881 | |
| Union Pacific Railroad, Moffat Tunnel Subdivision | Moffat Tunnel | 2,816 m (9,239 ft) | USA | 1928 | Apex in tunnel; highest point in Amtrak network |
| Bavarian Zugspitze Railway | Schneefernerhaus | 2,650 m (8,694 ft) |  Germany | 1930 | Underground above 1,640 m |
| Alishan Forest Railway | Chushan | 2,451 m (8,041 ft) |  Taiwan | 1986 | highest railway in Taiwan |
| Tramway du Mont-Blanc[9] | Nid d'aigle de Bionnassay | 2,380 m (7,808 ft) |  France | 1909 | |
| Darjeeling Himalayan Railway | Ghum | 2,257 m (7,405 ft)[10] |  India | 1880 | highest railway in India[10] |
| Bernina Railway | Ospizio Bernina | 2,253 m (7,392 ft) | Switzerland | 1909 | Highest rail crossing in Europe[11] |
| Nilgiri Mountain Railway | Ooty | 2,210 m (7,251 ft)[12] | India | 1908 | highest railway in south India |
| Kalka-Shimla Railway | Shimla | 2,086 m (6,844 ft)[13] | India | 1898 | |
| Pilatus Railway | Mount Pilatus | 2,073 m (6,801 ft) | Switzerland | 1889 | Steepest non-cable railway in the world[14] |
| Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn | Oberalp Pass | 2,043 m (6,703 ft) | Switzerland | 1926 |
Closed railways
| Railway line | Highest point | Highest elevation | Country | Opened / closed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mendoza-Los Andes | Los Caracoles | 3,176 m (10,420 ft) | Argentina Chile | 1910 / 1984 | |
| Dumaresq-Glen Innes | Ben Lomond | 1,363 m (4,472 ft) |  Australia | August 19, 1884 / December 10, 1985 | formerly the highest station in Australia |
See also
References
- ↑ Infos at mikes.railhistory.railfan.net
- ↑ China Railways. "Qinghai-Tibet Railway Scenery". China Tibet Train. Retrieved December 6, 2012.
- ↑ "World's highest railway station enters key construction period". Canada Tibet Committee. July 28, 2005. Retrieved December 6, 2012.
- ↑ Bennett, Suzy (October 2003). "A train journey through the Peruvian Andes". Wanderlust. Retrieved December 6, 2012.
- ↑ "Our Train - The Highest in the World". Incas del Peru. Retrieved December 6, 2012.
- ↑ Manitou & Pike's Peak Cog Railway. "Along The Route". Pikes Peak Cog Railway. Retrieved December 6, 2012.
- 1 2 Jungfraubahnen. "Jungfraujoch - Top of Europe". Jungfrau Ski Region. Retrieved December 6, 2012.
- ↑ Switzerland Tourism. "Highest railway in Europe". My Switzerland. Retrieved December 6, 2012.
- ↑ http://www.compagniedumontblanc.fr/fr/presentation-des-sites/tramway-du-mont-blanc
- 1 2 "Toy train from NJP to Darjeeling". Go2India.in. Retrieved December 6, 2012.
- ↑ Nicola Williams, Damien Simonis, Kerry Walker. Switzerland (ebook Edition). Lonely Planet
- ↑ "Ooty Railway Station". indiarailinfo.com.
- ↑ "Shimla Railway Station". indiarailinfo.com.
- ↑ Engineering Magazine, Volume 14, p. 81
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