Residents of Beijing, Xining and Chengdu rushed to train stations at 8 a.m. on June 28 to buy tickets for the first batch of trains heading for Lhasa for the world's highest railway, the Qinghai-Tibet line, trial run July 1, reports the Beijing News.

Chinese workers install the sign on the roof of Lhasa Railway Station in Lhasa, Tibet, June 20, 2006. The Chinese characters say "Lhasa." It was the largest railway station alongside Qinghai-Tibet Railway, which will begin trial operations on July 1.[Xinhua]

The Qinghai-Tibet railway connects Xining, Qinghai Province, to Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region. Over 80 per cent of the line is built at an altitude of more than 4,000 meters.

"Because many travelers are anxious to buy tickets for the first batch of trains heading for the last stop, Lhasa, we have set up two ticket sales windows," deputy head of the Xining Train Station, surnamed Gu, says. "The station has deployed up to 20 police officers to maintain order."

Gu didn't give a specific number of ticket buyers.

"I started keeping track of ticket sales about a month ago, and have been going back and forth to the train station" a traveler, surnamed Hu, told the Beijing-based newspaper.

"I rushed to the station at eight p.m last night and I, as well as other travelers, were prepared to stay at the station overnight in order to buy a ticket."

A Beijing West Station staff member told the paper that retail tickets have almost sold out.

Tips on plateau travel have been marked on the tickets, to ensure traveler's safety along the world's highest railway.

It will take 48 hours and a minimum of 389 yuan (US$49) to get to Lhasa from Beijing, state media reports said.