Qinghai-Tibet railway nears finish
By Hu Xiao (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-08-31 05:50

LHASA: After four years of construction, much of it in extremely rugged terrain, the Qinghai-Tibet Railway Project will be ready for testing in less than a year.

Workmen are currently completing Lhasa Railway Station, the biggest transport station on the line.

Qinghai-Tibet Railway Project

"The whole project is going very well now. The railway will be paved up to Lhasa by the end of the year. We're sure that the whole railway will be ready for trials by next July 1," said Sun Fuqing, vice-minister of railways here yesterday.

Accompanied by the sound of drills and sledgehammers, members of the central government delegation to Tibet to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region visited the under-construction station and greeted the workmen yesterday.

Jia Qinglin, head of the delegation, spoke highly of the railway: "The Qinghai-Tibet Railway is a landmark project that is part of the government's drive to develop the country's western regions. It will benefit the development of Tibet's communications and tourism, and promote economic and cultural exchanges between Tibet and other parts of China."

Work on the project began on June 29, 2001. The railroad starts from Golmud in Qinghai Province, and stretches a distance of 1,142 kilometres to Lhasa in the south. About 960 kilometres of the track are over 4,000 metres above sea level, with the highest point 5,072 metres. In addition, 550 kilometres of the line are laid on frozen earth, according to Sun.