Recently, the full-line upgrade of Ge'ermu-Ku'erle Railway was officially completed. CASCO, within less than 100 days, supported the successful completion of the capacity expansion and renovation project of Ge'ermu-Ku'erle Railway (Qinghai Section), injecting new vitality into this "New Silk Road in the Desert".

The Ge'ermu-Ku'erle Railway starts from Ge'ermu in Qinghai in the east and reaches Ku'erle in Xinjiang in the west. It is of great significance for promoting economic and trade exchanges between these two places and serving the Belt and Road Initiative. The total length of the line is 1,213 kilometers, with Qinghai section 505.6 kilometers long, which entered revenue service in June 2020. In response to the continuous rise in transportation demand in recent years and the approaching limit of transportation capacity, the capacity expansion and renovation project was launched.

Against this backdrop, CASCO provided FZk-CTC3.0 Centralized Traffic Control System and CSM-KA Centralized Signal Monitoring System for the Ge'ermu-Ku'erle Railway (Qinghai Section), covering 19 newly built stations and 5 renovated stations on the main line. The new system, featuring more stable operation, more intelligent functions, more comprehensive information collection, and faster access, provides necessary technical support for capacity enhancement. It is expected that the number of trains running on the Ge'ermu-Ku'erle Railway will increase from 13 pairs to 19 pairs, and the annual transportation capacity will rise from 16 million tons to 33 million tons.

Signal cabinet

To CASCO, this was not only a battle of technological upgrad but also an ultimate challenge of racing against time. From July 26th to October 30th, 2024, engineers completed the installation and commissioning of signaling equipment along the entire Qinghai section after three months of intense construction and opened all stations in seven batches.

Commissioning of station and central equipment

Due to the prevalence of gobi and desert areas along the railway and the long distances between stations, engineers spent five to six hours on the road each day. To squeeze out more construction time, they compromised the meal and rest time. To catch up with the schedule, they remained at their postions during the National Day holiday and completed the simultaneous opening of six stations—Ganshenxi, Xiaojianshandong, Dawusi, Yingxiongling, Gasihu, and Qigequan—in one go. This was the most intensive task among the seven opening batches and laid a solid foundation for the opening of all stations along the line.

The Ge'ermu-Ku'erle Railway (Qinghai Section) has a maximum altitude exceeding 3,500 meters and an average altitude above 2,500 meters. It runs through uninhabited desert with harsh natural conditions. During the construction period in midsummer, engineers frequently traveled between stations under the scorching sun and sometimes encountered sandstorms. However, these difficulties did not stop them. With unwavering determination and solid professional skills, the 12-member team completed the commissioning and opening of 19 stations in just one month, refreshing the CASCO speed while ensuring project quality.

Scorching sunny day vs. Approaching sandstorm

Looking back on this 100-day ultimate challenge, CASCO not only successfully completed this arduous task but also fulfilled its responsibility and commitment as a railway builder through practical actions, writing an unforgettable chapter of struggle. Looking ahead, CASCO will remain true to its original aspiration and continue to contribute to the development of national railway.