China's freight train carrying +1,000 tons of winter supplies departs to Afghanistan

[beijingwalker]

China's freight train carrying +1,000 tons of winter supplies departs to Afghanistan

 

[MH.Yang]

Let's avoid famine in Afghanistan first. Negotiations with the Taliban can take time.

 

[beijingwalker]

US, biggest destroyer. China, biggest builder.

 

[tower9]

How would it get to Afghanistan? There is no rail link

 

[Beidou2020]

US, biggest destroyer. China, biggest builder.

Battle between good and evil. The destroyer is evil, the builder is good.

 

[Cheehg]

How would it get to Afghanistan? There is no rail link

They can deliver by trucks in the end of railway line. It didn't say to where but normally it ends at Termaz in Uzbekistan. Then the containers unloaded to trunks and cross the border to Hairatan in Afghanistan.

 

[Falconless]

They can deliver by trucks in the end of railway line. It didn't say to where but normally it ends at Termaz in Turkmenistan. Then the containers unloaded to trunks and cross the border to Hairatan in Afghanistan.

Via Uzbekistan the railway extends to Mizar-e-Sharif

 

[FuturePAF]

How would it get to Afghanistan? There is no rail link

For now trucks can take offloaded rail cargo in a Central Asian country, but down the line, if the Pakistan-Afghanistan-Uzbekistan train route is completed, freight can cross the Chinese border at Khorgos and take that rail route into Mazar and Kabul.

For strategic reasons (for both China and Pakistan); China should consider co-funding an all weather rail route through the Himalayas in Gilgit-Baltistan to link up its rail system in Kashgar and Hotan to Pakistan (and the port of Gwadar) fastest route to the Indian Ocean could be used to send Russian and Chinese freight south and bring supplies from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Africa north. It would be a route through one reliable ally (hedging against potential instability in Afghanistan) and secure a route not vulnerable to naval choke points. It would also help develop western China as raw materials could be shipped in and out of the area instead of shipped all the way to the Chinese coast, where labor costs are higher. It would make the investment in Gwadar more sustainable for Chinese companies.

Chinese tourism along this train route would also help the local economy, not to mention lowering cargo costs for residents of the area and making travel safer and more reliable for residents, tourists, and military logistics.

 

[Cheehg]

Now when Afghanistan ends the war. The railway from China through Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan to Iran may gain traction. If this line is built, China - Europe trains won't need to change the gauge or unloading and reloading at the China/Kazakhstan border.

Via Uzbekistan the railway extends to Mizar-e-Sharif

Yes you are right. Tarmaz is in Uzbekistan. And there is railway station at Hairatan so this train is going to Hairatan.
The track after Hairatan looks abandoned.

 

[Cheehg]

China has regular scheduled freight trains from Nantong to Hairatan 2 times every month.

 

[FuturePAF]

Now when Afghanistan ends the war. The railway from China through Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan to Iran may gain traction. If this line is built, China - Europe trains won't need to change the gauge or unloading and reloading at the China/Kazakhstan border.

Yes you are right. Tarmaz is in Uzbekistan. And there is railway station at Hairatan so this train is going to Hairatan.
The track after Hairatan looks abandoned.

For China it would be cheaper I presume (due to infrastructure already in place) to focus on the Kazakhstan-Russia route, even with the Change of gauge.

 

[Cheehg]

For now trucks can take offloaded rail cargo in a Central Asian country, but down the line, if the Pakistan-Afghanistan-Uzbekistan train route is completed, freight can cross the Chinese border at Khorgos and take that rail route into Mazar and Kabul.

For strategic reasons (for both China and Pakistan); China should consider co-funding an all weather rail route through the Himalayas in Gilgit-Baltistan to link up its rail system in Kashgar and Hotan to Pakistan (and the port of Gwadar) fastest route to the Indian Ocean could be used to send Russian and Chinese freight south and bring supplies from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Africa north. It would be a route through one reliable ally (hedging against potential instability in Afghanistan) and secure a route not vulnerable to naval choke points. It would also help develop western China as raw materials could be shipped in and out of the area instead of shipped all the way to the Chinese coast, where labor costs are higher. It would make the investment in Gwadar more sustainable for Chinese companies.

Chinese tourism along this train route would also help the local economy, not to mention lowering cargo costs for residents of the area and making travel safer and more reliable for residents, tourists, and military logistics.

This route is very difficult. Pakistan side is too steep. But if the railway via Afghanistan from Gwadar- Kandahar- Kabul and then Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan to Kashgar, it is possible. Now I understand why China is building the railway from Hotan to Golmud to Chengdu.

 

[FuturePAF]

This route is very difficult. Pakistan side is too steep. But if the railway via Afghanistan from Gwadar- Kandahar- Kabul and then Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan to Kashgar, it is possible. Now I understand why China is building the railway from Hotan to Golmud to Chengdu.

It is also possible China may build many tunnels; which from a military logistical point of view, enables the shortest route to Gwadar with the least possibilities of political tensions disrupting service.

Costs to build will be high, but geo-strategically it would be revolutionary, allowing Hotan to be resupplied from Pakistan as well as the two train routes from the rest of China.

 

[Cheehg]

It is also possible China may build many tunnels; which from a military logistical point of view, enables the shortest route to Gwadar with the least possibilities of political tensions disrupting service.

Costs to build will be high, but geo-strategically it would be revolutionary, allowing Hotan to be resupplied from Pakistan as well as the two train routes from the rest of China.

It's not about digging tunnel. China can dig many tunnels for Sichuan to Tibet railway. But the freight trains cannot climbing the steep mountain. Normally it has to be less than 2%.

 

[FuturePAF]

It's not about digging tunnel. China can dig many tunnels for Sichuan to Tibet railway. But the freight trains cannot climbing the steep mountain. Normally it has to be less than 2%.

How different is the Sichuan-Tibet route to the Kashgar-Islamabad Route? Tibet is as high as you could go. Perhaps they may need switchbacks and other means to get to higher altitude over a shorter distance, but once high enough it should be somewhat similar terrain; granted Tibet is more permafrost plateau and Gilgit-Baltistan is more narrow river valleys, but if there is a will there is a way.

By tunnels, I meant something similar to what is being built in the Swiss alps.

It’s not like the Chinese haven’t built high speed railways tunnels before.