The new Guangzhou-Lhasa train service linking the south China
metropolis with the capital city of southwestern Tibet Autonomous
Region will go into commercial operation on Oct. 2, the second day
of the holiday week celebrating National Day.
The 4,980-kilometer journey will take 57 hours and 21
minutes.
Sources with Guangzhou Railway Group said on Saturday that three
trains fitted with state-of-the art equipment will be used for the
new service.
Besides ventilation, water supply, electricity generation and
central heating fittings, trains will carry oxygen supply and
anti-frigidity equipment, the sources said.
The trains, departing every other day, will have 15 carriages
including two soft sleeping berth carriages, seven hard sleeping
berth carriages, four hard seaters and one dining carriage. Each
train can transport 863 people.
Sichuan, Guangdong and Hunan style dishes, as well as western
and Muslim-style dishes, will be available in the 40-seat dining
carriage, which can stay open around the clock and be used to hold
small parties.
A hard sleeping berth will cost 896 yuan (US$113) and a soft
berth 1,434 yuan (US$182).
The 302 train stewards for the Guangzhou-Lhasa railway services
have been taught about Tibetan customs and can speak a little
Tibetan, Mongolian, Tu and Sala.
Tourism to Tibet has surged since the 1,956-km-long
Qinghai-Tibet Raiway went into operation on July 1.
(Xinhua News Agency September 30, 2006)