These seven railway bridges pushed engineering to its limits

Railway bridges are often judged by their height or engineering complexity, but some stand out simply because of their astonishing length. Many of the world’s longest railway bridges are not dramatic river crossings but rather vast viaducts spanning floodplains, wetlands, farmland, and densely populated regions to provide stable routes for high-speed trains.

This list ranks the longest completed railway bridges by total structural length, based on publicly available engineering data and official railway records.

1. Danyang–Kunshan Grand Bridge (China) – 164.8 km (102.4 miles)

Part of the Beijing–Shanghai High-Speed Railway, the Danyang–Kunshan Grand Bridge is the longest railway bridge ever built and the world’s longest bridge of any kind. Opened in 2011, it stretches 164.8 kilometers across eastern China’s floodplains, canals, rice fields, and Yangcheng Lake. Built using thousands of precast concrete segments supported by roughly 2,000 piers, the viaduct allows high-speed trains traveling up to 350 km/h (217 mph) to maintain a smooth, uninterrupted route while minimizing environmental disruption and reducing the risk of flooding.

2. Changhua–Kaohsiung Viaduct (Taiwan) – 157.3 km (97.7 miles)

Running along Taiwan’s High Speed Rail network, the Changhua–Kaohsiung Viaduct is the world’s second-longest railway bridge. Extending 157.3 kilometers, the elevated structure was specifically engineered to withstand the island’s frequent earthquakes and typhoons. Its continuous viaduct design reduces the number of level crossings while helping trains maintain high operating speeds. Engineers also incorporated seismic protection features that allow the bridge to better tolerate ground movement, an essential requirement in one of the world’s most seismically active regions.

3. Kita-Yaita Viaduct (Japan) – 114.4 km (71.1 miles)

The Kita–Yaita Viaduct carries Japan’s Tohoku Shinkansen across the Kanto Plain. Measuring approximately 114.4 kilometers, it is the longest railway bridge in Japan. Like many Shinkansen structures, it was designed for exceptional ride quality, using continuous elevated construction to minimize the need for curves, level crossings, and ground settlement. The viaduct also incorporates earthquake-resistant engineering, enabling Japan’s high-speed rail network to safely operate in one of the world’s most earthquake-prone countries.

4. Tianjin Grand Bridge (China) – 113.7 km (70.6 miles)

Also serving the Beijing–Shanghai High-Speed Railway, the Tianjin Grand Bridge extends 113.7 kilometers between Langfang and Qingxian. Completed in 2010, the bridge traverses extensive agricultural land and urban areas, allowing trains to bypass road crossings while maintaining high operating speeds. Much of the structure consists of repetitive precast concrete spans, an approach that accelerated construction and reduced maintenance costs over the bridge’s operational lifetime.

5. Cangde Grand Bridge (China) – 105.9 km (65.8 miles)

The Cangde Grand Bridge, another key component of the Beijing–Shanghai High-Speed Railway, stretches 105.9 kilometers through Hebei Province. Opened in 2011, the viaduct crosses numerous rivers, irrigation canals, highways, and railway lines while supporting trains traveling at up to 350 km/h. Its elevated alignment helps minimize land acquisition and reduces the risk of flooding disrupting one of China’s busiest high-speed rail corridors.

6. Weinan Weihe Grand Bridge (China) – 79.7 km (49.5 miles)

Completed as part of the Zhengzhou–Xi’an High-Speed Railway, the Weinan Weihe Grand Bridge measures 79.7 kilometers and was once recognized as the world’s longest bridge before the completion of several longer Chinese viaducts. It crosses both the Wei River and numerous tributaries, as well as roads and agricultural land. The bridge’s long, continuous design provides a stable, low-maintenance alignment for high-speed rail while avoiding frequent crossings of waterways and transportation corridors.

7. Beijing Grand Bridge (China) – 48.2 km (29.9 miles)

The Beijing Grand Bridge forms another major section of the Beijing–Shanghai High-Speed Railway, extending 48.2 kilometers. Although considerably shorter than the bridges above it, the structure remains among the longest railway bridges ever constructed. It was built to carry trains rapidly through Beijing’s expanding metropolitan region while minimizing interactions with existing roads, urban infrastructure, and local rail lines. The bridge exemplifies China’s extensive use of elevated viaducts to support one of the world’s largest high-speed rail networks.