China is starting the construction phase of the Xinjiang-Tibet railway project – adjacent to India’s northern Ladakh borders. India’s neighbor has established the Xinjiang Tibet Railway Co. Ltd in the past week, following years of preliminary studies on the railway line.According to an ET report, the new railway line has been under consideration for approximately twenty years. Initially proposed between 2006-08, coinciding with the completion of Lhasa’s first railway connection, it was envisioned as part of a comprehensive rail network linking Lhasa to mainland China, with connections to Yunnan, Chengdu and Xinjiang. However, the Xinjiang connection remained theoretical, primarily due to necessary extensive feasibility assessments for construction through challenging geographical conditions, including extreme cold and permafrost regions. The project gained momentum when a portion of the Xinjiang-Tibet Railway was incorporated into Tibet Autonomous Region’s 2021-30 Railway Network Development Plan.
Xinjiang-Tibet railway line details
The new railway route is expected to traverse Aksai Chin and parallel the G219 highway, in proximity to the Line of Actual Control. The development of border infrastructure has remained a critical issue, resulting in confrontations and military tensions.
1962 war connection
This development coincides with ongoing India-China diplomatic discussions aimed at reducing border tensions along LAC, with additional dialogue expected before the SCO summit this month.The newly formed organisation’s responsibilities include railway construction, transport equipment manufacturing, property development and management, along with tourism infrastructure development.The Chinese government has established a new state-owned enterprise, Xinjiang Tibet Railway Co Ltd, fully controlled by China State Railway Group Ltd. This mirrors the structure of the Yajiang Group, which began constructing a massive dam on the Brahmaputra (Yarlung Tsangpo) recently.According to China’s National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity system, the railway company has been incorporated with 95 billion yuan (approximately $13.2b) in registered capital, with Ma Yinjun designated as its legal representative.China State Railway Group awarded a tender for the Hotan-Shigatse railway survey and design project in May 2022. Subsequently, during a press conference in April 2025, the Chinese transport ministry announced that the Xinjiang-Tibet railway line was included amongst 45 significant projects scheduled to commence construction within that year.
