The 10 Highest Railway Lines in the World
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Railway lines do not run only across lowlands and cities. In some countries, tracks climb to more than 5,000 metres above sea level, crossing mountain ranges with challenging geography.
According to World Train Map data, the world’s highest railway lines are found in the mountain regions of Asia and the Americas. China, Peru, Argentina, the United States and Switzerland feature among the top 10.
The Qinghai–Tibet Railway is the highest, reaching a summit of 5,072 metres above sea level, followed by Peru’s Ferrocarril Central Andino at 4,781 metres. Peru also takes third place with the PeruRail Titicaca, at 4,319 metres.
The Pikes Peak Cog Railway in the United States reaches 4,302 metres, while Argentina’s Tren a las Nubes climbs to 4,220 metres. The next places are occupied by China’s Lhasa–Shigatse Railway, two routes to Machu Picchu in Peru, and Switzerland’s Jungfraubahn and Gornergrat Bahn.
The dominance of mountain regions is no coincidence. These railway lines cross high plateaux and ranges such as the Tibetan Plateau, the Andes and the Alps.
The terrain allows tracks to reach extreme elevations, although their construction and maintenance face challenges from the landscape, weather and low oxygen levels.
Peru is one of the countries that stands out in the list. The South American country has four railway lines in the top eight, including the Ferrocarril Central Andino, which crosses the Andes and reaches 4,781 metres.
In Indonesia, the southern railway route across Java is recorded as the country’s highest. It runs from the west, through Jakarta and Bandung, towards central and eastern Java via Yogyakarta, Solo and Surabaya.
PT Kereta Api Indonesia lists Nagreg Station in Bandung Regency as the highest point on the country’s rail network, at around 848 metres above sea level, in its list of the highest railway lines by country.
The area is surrounded by hills and lies in the East Priangan mountain range, giving the surrounding railway line an undulating profile. This elevation makes Nagreg the highest station in the list of active stations.
Not far from Nagreg Station is Cipeundeuy Station, on the southern route, which plays an important role in rail safety.
All trains passing through must stop at the station, at an elevation of 772 metres, for checks on the braking system and train formation.
The checks are carried out because the line beyond the station has fairly steep gradients, so the brakes must be confirmed to be in good condition before trains continue their journey.
Interestingly, a train can stop at the station for around 10–15 minutes. Many passengers get off simply to buy snacks near the station.