People are expected to view the beautiful scenery of the
Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, dubbed "roof of the world," in luxurious
train by 2007, according to a framework agreement signed in Beijing
Saturday.
The agreement, signed between the Qinghai-Tibet Railway
Corporation and the Rail Partners Inc. The two firms will set up a
joint venture on operation of the tableland tour scheme.
The train will run 2,040 kilometers from Xining, capital of
Qinghai Province, to Lhasa, capital of the Tibet Autonomous
Region.
It will take three days to complete the one-way travel. Stations
are built near scenery spots, according to the Qinghai-Tibet
Corporation.
As oxygen is thin in the region, trains, including sleeping
cars, dining car and sightseeing cars, will be equipped with oxygen
system for those who need.
Rubbish disposal system will also be installed in trains running
on the route to prevent local environment from being polluted.
The 1,142-km-long section of Qinghai-Tibet Railway from Golmud
to Lhasa has been completed on Oct. 12, 2005 and is scheduled to
open to traffic on July 1, 2006.
(Xinhua News Agency December 11, 2005)