On December 23, 2025, the Baotou-Yinchuan high-speed railway (hereinafter referred to as the Railway) was officially put into operation. At around 12:00 on the same day, the first train crossed the Wuhai Yellow River Grand Bridge on the Railway and entered Ningxia.

Running through multiple regions in northwestern China and spanning several climate zones, the Railway features unique and variable climatic conditions along the route, making meteorological disasters the primary challenge for its safe operation.

The Railway Photoed by QI Yingtao

Severe convective weather is one of the greatest threats to railways along the route.

Heavy rain and short-range heavy downpours are likely to cause track waterlogging in low-lying sections.

Strong thunder and lightning may directly attack the open-air equipment along the high-speed railway, interfere with the normal operation of signal and power supply systems, and directly endanger driving safety.

Low-visibility weather such as dense fog and sandstorms will reduce the effective field of vision of high-speed railway drivers, making it difficult for them to predict track abnormalities in advance.

The impact of heavy snowfall is even more complex. On one hand, snowfall will block the drivers' sight; on the other hand, snow accumulation may also bury the tracks, damage the normal contact between trains and tracks, and at the same time interfere with the accurate transmission of the signal system.

And complex geological conditions are also exerting impacts. The Railway crosses the main channel of the Yellow River. The geological disaster risks along the route are mainly concentrated in key control projects such as the Helan Mountain Tunnel, Gander Mountain Tunnel, and bridges spanning the Yellow River. The geological conditions in these areas are extremely complex. As the line runs along the Yellow River, it is also necessary to prevent extreme floods from scouring bridge foundations and subgrades. These geological hazards are often interrelated with meteorological disasters and act as mutual triggers.

For example, continuous heavy precipitation may induce landslides, and floods will intensify the scouring of pier foundations, forming compound disaster risks.

The Railway Photoed by QI Yingtao

Faced with intertwined meteorological and geological risks, the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Meteorological Service and China State Railway Hohhot Group Co., Ltd. have established a relatively sound cooperation mechanism and a railway meteorological support service operation mechanism.

The meteorological services for the Railway will adjust with seasonal changes and combine the characteristics of the railway industry to clarify key points for seasonal disaster prevention, strengthen targeted analysis and judgment, and timely issue refined weather forecasts and disaster early warning information. For example, in spring, priority is given to the forecast and early warning of sandstorms and strong winds; in summer, the focus is on the forecast and early warning of severe convective weather and persistent heavy precipitation, as well as the impact analysis of affected sections.

Author: HU Jingwen, WANG Zhenhan, LI Yunyi

Editor: LIU Shuqiao