Qinghai-Tibet railway, world’s highest, begins operation in 2006 – SCMP archive

This article was originally published on July 2, 2006 ‘Sky trains’ begin first run to roof of the world by Shi Jiangtao The first train from Beijing to Lhasa on the world’s highest railway pulled out of the West Railway Station at 9.30pm, packed with 600 excited passengers and 100 journalists on what some described as a hotel on wheels. Trains earlier left from Golmud and Chengdu. For Lhasa student Bianba, it meant more opportunities to return home to see family. “It’s much cheaper to go home by...