Study on Kodari Scheme of Rikaze-Kathmandu Railway Location

Abstract

Building Rikaze-Kathmandu Railway will change the broken road situation of Lasa-Rikaze Railway, activate the potential of Qingzang Railway, have Tibet as well as Lasa and Rikaze become the node of south Asia channel of “One Belt and One Roadâ€, strengthen commercial trade and bilateral relations between China and Nepal. It is the shortest route for Rikaze-Kathmandu railway to go through Zhangmu port. By primary analysis, the feasible route should extend from the current Rikaze railway station, going through Qumei county, entering into the current G318 highway belt, then going through Jiding, Liuxiang and Resa, arriving Lazi. The route extends from Lazi, then goes through Jiacuola mountain by tunnel with 45km length, going through Jiacuo county and arriving Dingri. After Dingri, the route extends to west along with Pengqu river valley, going through Zhaguo, then arriving Gangga. Extending to southwest from Gangga, the route goes under Labujikang peak by a 42km tunnel, then arriving Yalai, then Nielamu and Zhangmu. The nature gradient between Nielamu and Zhangmu is 110‰, line mileage 20km, thus the rack rail technology or the linear motor driving should be considered for train to climb the steep slope more than 110‰. Another possible scheme is to build an 88km tunnel with a 28‰ gradient between Gangga and Zhangmu for going under Himalaya, so as to avoid the 110‰ steep slope between Nielamu-Zhangmu. As for Nepal section, the route extends from Kodari, going through Bahrabise and Dhulikhel, finally arriving Kathmandu. The total mileage of Rikaze-Kathmandu railway is about 460km, including China section 380km and Nepal section 80km.