Harbin–Manzhouli railway explained

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Trans-Siberian Harbin–Manzhouli railway
Native Name:滨洲铁路 (Bīnzhōu Tiělù)
Native Name Lang:zh
Type:Heavy rail,
Regional rail
Status:Operational
Locale:Heilongjiang, Inner Mongolia
Start:Harbin
End:Manzhouli
Stations:102
Open:14 January 1902
Owner:Chinese Eastern Railway (1902–1932)
North Manchuria Railway (1932–1935)
Manchukuo National Railway (1935–1945)
China Changchun Railway (1945–1955)
China Railway (since 1955)
Operator:China Railway Harbin Group
Linelength Km:935
Electrification: overhead line Harbin-Manzhouli & Zabaikalsk-Karymskaya Section
Map State:collapsed

Trans-Siberian Railway Harbin–Manzhouli railway, abbreviated as the Binzhou Railway, is a double-track electrified trunk railway in Northeast China between Harbin and Manzhouli on the Russian border, where it connects to the Trans-Siberian Railway via Zabaikalsk, Russia.

The Binzhou railway begins in the west at Manzhouli and runs eastward across the Hulunbuir grasslands, through the forests of the Greater Khingan range, the oilfields of Daqing, and the rich farmland of the Songhua River valley to Harbin.[1] Major cities and towns along route include Manzhouli, Jalainur, Hailar, Dayan, Yakeshi, and Zhalantun in Inner Mongolia, as well as Qiqihar, Daqing, Anda, Zhaodong, and Harbin in Heilongjiang.[2]

This line has the only station in all of China whose name is a single character: Song railway station (宋), which makes it a popular location amongst Chinese railfans.[3]

History

The Qing government's special envoy Li Hongzhang went to Russia to congratulate Tsar Nicholas II on his coronation, and signed the Sino–Russian Secret Treaty on June 3rd 1896; amongst other things, this treaty gave Russia the right to build a railway through northeast China - the Chinese Eastern Railway (CER). Harbin was selected to be the hub of the new railway system, with three Russian-gauge lines 1520mm envisioned heading east, west, and south from Harbin. Work on the western branch from Harbin to the Russian border at Manzhouli, then named the Haman Railway, commenced at both ends in June 1898, and was completed in 1902.[4] The eastern branch of the CER ran from Harbin to Suifenhe. The entire CER served as an alternative route to the Trans-Siberian Railway.[5]

The CER was a joint project of China and Russia, and after the Russo-Japanese War, the Japanese took over the southern portion of the CER, forming the South Manchuria Railway, with the northern portions remaining under Sino-Russian control. Following the October Revolution, the railway was controlled by White Russians for a time during the Russian Civil War, but from 1917 the government of the Republic of China began taking more control of the railway to itself, until in 1922 the CER was made officially a Sino-Soviet joint enterprise. However, in 1929 the Chinese seized complete control of the CER, storming the Soviet consulate in Harbin and arresting the officials of the CER. This led to the Sino-Soviet conflict of 1929, in which the Soviets quickly defeated the Chinese army and forced the Chinese to once again accept joint control of the railway. After the Mukden Incident, the Soviets retained control over the railway despite the Japanese occupation of northeastern China; after the establishment of Manchukuo in 1932, the CER became a joint Soviet-Manchukuo enterprise called the "North Manchuria Railway". In March 1935, the government of Manchukuo bought the Soviet share of the NMR for 140 million yen, and the entire network was taken over by the Manchukuo National Railway.[4]

After the Manchukuo National took over the NMR network, it changed the name of the Harbin–Manzhouli railway from Haman Railway to Binzhou Line, and on 1 August 1936, conversion of the line from Russian broad gauge to standard gauge was completed, increasing the operating speed to 60km/h.

After the Soviet invasion of Manchuria and the subsequent collapse of Manchukuo, the Soviets once again took control of the region's railways, and converted the Binzhou Line back to Russian gauge; in 1946, the Northeast Democratic Coalition seized control of the line, and once again regauged it. After the creation of the People's Republic of China, the railways in the territory of the former Manchukuo were taken over by a new Sino-Soviet joint enterprise, called the China Changchun Railway. Full control of the China Changchun Railway was to be turned over to the PRC on 31 December 1952, but due to the Korean War this was delayed until 1955.[6] The Harbin–Manzhouli line became part of China Railway at that time, and once again renamed, becoming the Binzhou Railway.

The Harbin-Manzhouli line has undergone substantial upgrades over the years.[4] Double-tracking began in 1983, with the Harbin–Anda section being the first section to be completed, in 1985; the entire line was completed in 2007, when the Manzhouli–Hailar section was completed,[7] increasing the line's capacity sixfold.[7] In 1990, semi-automatic train control was introduced, with DFH3-class diesel locomotives on passenger trains, and DF4B-class diesels and Renmin-class steam locomotives on freight trains. Operating speed on the line was raised to 100km/h.

The Binzhou Railway Electrification Project was officially started on 25 October 2014. The entire 933km (580miles) of the line was wired, and 17 new traction substations were built. The first section, from Harbin to Qiqihar, was completed on 3 November 2016; the first electric-hauled train on the line was K7108, pulled by a HXD3D-class locomotive.[8] The remaining section from Qiqihar to Manzhouli was energised on 11 December 2017.[9]

The Eastern end of the route was quadruple tracked in 2015 with the opening of the Harbin–Qiqihar intercity railway, dedicated to passenger service, increasing the passenger-carrying capacity of this section.[10]

The original Binzhou Railway Bridge was built in 1901, and was replaced by a new bridge in 2014. The old bridge is now a historical landmark protected by the city of Harbin.[11]

Route

Distance Station name
Total; kmS2S; kmCurrent nameFormer nameOpenedConnections
00Harbin
哈尔滨
Songhuajiang
松花江
1899Binbei Railway, Jingha Railway, Binsui Railway, Labin Railway, Binbei Railway
Songnan
松南
(service halt)
55Songbei
松北
1899
105Miaotaizi
庙台子
1899Jiangbei Connecting Line
Wandong
万东
Harbin North
哈尔滨北
2015
Dagengjia
大耿家
20Wanle
万乐
1899
3111Duiqingshan
对青山
1900
4211Limudian
里木店
1900
5210Jiangjia
姜家
1900
6311Zhaodong
肇东
1900Haqi HSR
7411Shangjia
尚家
1900
8410Wulimu
五里木
1900
9612Song
1900
11620Yangcao
羊草
1900
12711Anda
安达
1900Haqi HSR
13710Wolitun
卧里屯
1944
14811Daqing East
大庆东
Longfeng
龙凤
1960Haqi HSR
15911Daqing
大庆
Saertu
萨尔图
1902
17011Daqing West
大庆西
Ranghulu
让胡路
Haqi HSR, Tongrang Railway
18010Lamadian
喇嘛甸
1900
19010Qijia
齐家
1960(freight only)
20111Gaojia
高家
1949Closed
21211Dorbod
杜尔伯特
Taikang (Chinese: 泰康)
Xiaohaozi (Chinese: 小蒿子)
Малые станции саргассов
1900Haqi HSR
2219Qianhoudai
前后代
1960
23817Yantongtun
烟筒屯
1900
25214Houwujia
后五家
1960
2619Hongqiying
红旗营
1949
2709Ang'angxi
昂昂溪
1900San'ang Connecting Line, Qi'ang Railway
2777Wufu
五福
1958
2847Fularji
富拉尔基
1900
2939Hurhula
虎尔虎拉
1900
30310Heigang
黑岗
1947
31411Baishanxiang
白山乡
1949
3239Longjiang
龙江
1900
33310Laodao
老道
1947Closed
34411Luhe
鲁河
1947
35511Nianzishan
碾子山
1901
36510Jixinhe
吉新河
1950
37611Fengrong
丰荣
1947Closed
3848Genghis Khan
成吉思汗
1901
39511Gulijin
古里金
1947
40611Gaotaizi
高台子
1949
41610Zhalantun
扎兰屯
1901
4259Woniuhe
卧牛河
1901
43510Sandaoqiao
三道桥
1901(passenger only)
44611Halasu
哈拉苏
1902
45610Nanmu
南木
1901
46711Fulin
富林
1901(passenger only)
47811Balin
巴林
1901
48810Lamashan
喇嘛山
1901
49810Zigou
紫沟
1901(passenger only)
51012Yalu
雅鲁
1901
52010Qishan
旗山
1901
5277Goukou
沟口
1901
5314Jixiangfeng
吉祥峰
1987Closed
5398Boketu
博克图
Bugt
Бугтъ
1901
5467Shali
沙力
1987(passenger only)
5471Shangshali
上沙力
1990(freight only)
5569Xinnangou
新南沟
1901(passenger only)
56418Xing'anling
兴安岭
1901
57410Yiliekede
伊列克得
1901(freight only)
5828Xilingkou
西岭口
1901(passenger only)
59210Halagou
哈拉沟
1901(passenger only)
60412Wunur
乌奴耳
1901
6095Sangenhe
三根河
1987Closed
6145Wuchuan
乌川
1901Closed
6239Beitouhe
北头河
1901(passenger only)
63412Mianduhe
免渡河
1901
64511Xiaobei
小北
1901
65611Zhuoshan
卓山
1901(freight only)
66711Yakeshi
牙克石
1901
6747Haiman
海满
1901(freight only)
68511Dayan
大雁, ᠳ‍ᠶ‍‍ᠨ
1901
6949Zhaluomude
扎罗木得
1901
6995Shunhe
顺河
1987Closed
72122Hake
哈克
1901
7309Xiha
西哈
1901Closed
7366Hongyuan
宏原
1987Closed
7426Hailar East
海拉尔东, ᠬᠠᠶᠢᠯᠠᠷ ᠳ‍ᠣ‍‍ᠷ‍ᠨ‍ᠣ‍
1901
(freight only)
7497Hailar
海拉尔, ᠬᠠᠶᠢᠯᠠᠷ
1903
76011Anyi
安邑
1901Closed
77111Daliang
大良
1901(passenger only)
7809Wugunor
乌固诺尔
1901
7899Wulanqiu
乌兰丘
1987(passenger only)
80112Donggong
东宫
1987(passenger only)
81110Wangong
完工
1901
82211Doulun Halt
都伦乘降所
1901(passenger only)
83311Lingqiu Halt
陵丘乘降所
1901(passenger only)
84411He'erhongde
赫尔洪得
1901
85511Huangde Halt
皇德乘降所
1901(passenger only)
86611Haomen Halt
豪门乘降所
1987(passenger only)
8748Cuogang
嵯岗
1901
88511A'ergong
阿尔公
1901Closed
89611Hubei Halt
湖北乘降所
1901(passenger only)
90610Jalainur
扎赉诺尔, ᠵᠠᠯᠠᠢᠳᠨᠠᠭᠤᠷ
1901
9126Jalainur West
扎赉诺尔西, ᠵᠠᠯᠠᠢᠳᠨᠠᠭᠤᠷ ᠪᠠᠷᠠᠭᠣᠨ
1898
9197Donghao Halt
东壕乘降所
1898(passenger only)
9278Lubin
胪滨
1898
9358Manzhouli
满洲里, ᠮᠠᠨᠵᠤᠤᠷᠬᠣᠲᠠ
Manchzhuriya
Маньчжурия
1901
China–Russia border
9394Zabaikalsk
Забайкальск
1901Trans-Siberian Railway via Trans-Baikal Railway

Notes and References

  1. Book: Thomas. Bryn. Trans-Siberian Handbook. 1988. Roger Lascelles. Brentford. 0903909693.
  2. Book: Quail Map Company. China Railway Atlas. third. 2008. Quail Map Company. 978-1-898319-82-5.
  3. Web site: 在"火车吧"里话别铁道部-中国青年报. zqb.cyol.com.
  4. (Chinese) 滨洲铁路简介 Accessed 2011-01-31
  5. Book: Strauss. Robert. Trans-Siberian Rail Guide. 1987. Bradt Publications. Chalfont St Peter. 0946983062.
  6. (Chinese) "哈尔滨铁路的百年历史发展" Tieliu Accessed 2011-01-31
  7. (Chinese) 滨洲铁路海拉尔至满洲里段复线全线通车 中国铁路网 2007-12-05
  8. http://news.ifeng.com/a/20161102/50190741_0.shtml 百年滨洲铁路进入电气化时代
  9. Web site: 百年滨洲铁路接触网工程全线成功送电. 2018-02-05. 2017-12-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20171226234653/http://www.crcebgf.com/index.php?m=content&c=index&a=show&catid=16&id=1455. dead.
  10. Web site: Northernmost PDL opens in Heilongjiang. Railway Gazette. 5 December 2017.
  11. (Chinese) "哈尔滨滨洲铁路桥等19处建筑申报全国重点文物保护单位"