Approximately 450,000 travelers and 100,000 tons of freight had
been transported up to September 18 on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway,
said Railway Ministry spokesman Wang Yongping in Beijing
Monday.
The world's highest altitude rail track is playing an
increasingly important role in the social and economic development
of Qinghai Province and the Tibet Autonomous Region, said Wang. The volumes
of coal, oil, metals, fertilizer and farm produce freighted had
increased significantly, he added.
Wang said the majority of travelers were tourists with the main
goods carried into Tibet being food, coal, consumer goods and
building materials. He said services to Tibet from Shanghai and
Guangzhou had been added for the upcoming National Day period. The
railway link was operating in an efficient manner, Wang added.
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The "altiplano" trains, which became operational on July 1, are
equipped with oxygen and double-glazing covered with ultraviolet
radiation film for passenger protection. ?
With winter drawing closer railway operations are being
monitored closely, said Wang.
(Xinhua News Agency September 19, 2006)