lemontree

http://www.indianexpress.com/full_st...ntent_id=78057
Tibet rail line is a marvel, but China is mum
Chinese reticence has much to do with aspirations for Tibetan independence

GOLMUD, SEPTEMBER 12: By the time the great railroad reaches this town from the east, it will already have traversed more than half of China, past the high desert of Qinghai, around one of the world’s great salt lakes, through the arid fastness of Gansu and over and around mountain ranges arrayed like endless sets of waves all the way to Beijing.

The biggest challenges, however, lie when the line heads to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, over what is often called the roof of the world. For long stretches the railway, which is fast nearing completion, will operate at altitudes higher than many small planes can fly. Indeed, the train, whose engines will need turbochargers just to get enough oxygen to run, will often soar above the clouds.

One might expect a country that is pulling off one of the world’s great engineering feats to be eager to show off its handiwork. If so, no one has told the Railway Ministry, which for a full year refused to answer requests to visit the new line.

What could explain such a reluctance to show off this marvel of railway building? As was underscored by events in Lhasa—where Beijing was celebrating the 40th anniversary of what it calls the Tibet Autonomous Region—it had much to do with Tibetan aspirations for independence.

By some estimates, the new train will carry as many as 900,000 people to Tibet each year, with the newcomers overwhelmingly consisting of members of China’s Han majority, many of whom will opt to stay.

‘‘The Han population is rising and the Tibetan language, our mother language, is losing its position among our people,’’ said a Tibetan teacher who fled to India in January after being arrested several times for his views. ‘‘The road building jobs and the construction jobs are not open to Tibetans, and young Tibetan girls are turning to prostitution.’’

If the Chinese wish to help Tibet, said the teacher, who asked not to be identified, ‘‘They should stop the immigration and give the opportunities to local people so they can improve their lives, and we can protect our culture’’.

—NYT

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Cheers!...on the rocks!!

oneman28

Moron,

Why not go to ask Dala who gave up the independence request recently?

The railway will be complete this year as I remember and will be used for the public transportation too. For the high attitute and low temperature, few are allowed to go there. There is no other reasons for that. Sooner or later, many have chance to take the cozy cozy train to Xizang as long as you have a good will.

Your morons cannot stop China. haha

indianguy4u

Good joke bunny ! .

__________________
Hala Madrid!!

oneman28

Do you have brain? That's a transportation system will be used for public service.

lemontree

Where was the need to give out your family name?...
No one said anything about stopping China. Can't you discuss anything with out flaming?

indianguy4u

Gone case .

oneman28

Don't you think the title is not flaming? There is no need to keep a public project secret, let alone it will be open to service so soon. The simple reason can be understood by any people who have brain.

The railway is very high (many of them are more than 4000 meters high and There is no residents living around in most part of the railway). The special train passenger cars were ordered for the service that can adjust the air presure and temperature, the system is pretty much like a plane.

This article is purely anti- china propoganda of western media based on no bases.

lemontree

It is not. the title only questions China for is reluctance to show off a master piece in rail engineering. We are impressed in India, but wonder about the secrecy.
Everyone is not as fortunate as you.
"The more one learns the more one realises how less he knows
It is the fortunate who feel they know everything".
It an attempt to voice the concerns of the Tibetans.

Jay

Whats wrong in the title?? As it says, China has not publicized this railway line like it publicized the Shanghai MAGLEV. May be there are political compulsions or may be China wants to keep it as a surprise to rest of the world.

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A grain of wheat eclipsed the sun of Adam !!

oneman28

Not publish the railway? Do some investigation. You can see alot pics and news report in Chinese media. Nothing secret about it.

http://english1.people.com.cn/200207...01_98919.shtml

http://www.edu.cn/20011204/3012781.shtml

http://www.chinapage.com/road/qingha...t-raillway.htm

http://www.china.org.cn/english/China/125619.htm

These are just a small part from Chinese English version media. You can find more in Chinese version.

http://www.qh.xinhuanet.com/qztlw/
This is the web for this railroad in Xinhua net. It is in Chinese though.

http://www.qh.xinhuanet.com/qztlw/photo.htm
Here are the pics of the project. It is worth looking if you ar einterested.

The project is close to completion. Only 40 km away from Lhasa.

http://www.qh.xinhuanet.com/qztlw/20...nt_4682550.htm
This pic shows the oxygeon station. Workers have to stay there for 4 or 5 hurs each day. Otherwise, they will have health trouble. So you can imagine how hard the project is and how difficult to make arrangement for reporters.

Jay

Can you post some pics...

This is all I got...

oneman28

http://www.qh.xinhuanet.com/qztlw/photo.htm

Come to this page. Every pic here is a link to more and bigger pics.


http://www.qh.xinhuanet.com/qztlw/20...nt_5119003.htm
This shows the env. protection. It's a protected wet land.




http://www.qh.xinhuanet.com/qztlw/20...nt_5108190.htm
laying the rail on ice land.



http://www.qh.xinhuanet.com/qztlw/20...nt_5079569.htm
The bridge close to Yangbajing, where is the biggest geo-thermal power station in Tibet as I know.



http://www.qh.xinhuanet.com/qztlw/20...nt_5070718.htm
Working in clod weather



http://www.qh.xinhuanet.com/2005-09/...nt_5030523.htm
Some worker say bye to the project (they cannot stay there long for the hash condition. Rotation is needed.



http://www.qh.xinhuanet.com/qztlw/20...nt_5014536.htm
Building the Lhasa Railway station.


http://www.qh.xinhuanet.com/qztlw/20...nt_4994979.htm
Residents welcome the project


http://www.qh.xinhuanet.com/qztlw/20...nt_4979620.htm
Leaders are coming (of the onstruction company)


http://www.qh.xinhuanet.com/qztlw/20...nt_4964871.htm
A bridge


http://www.qh.xinhuanet.com/qztlw/20...nt_4941506.htm
Wireless network built along the railroad.




http://www.qh.xinhuanet.com/qztlw/20...nt_4885007.htm
Env. protection projects along the railroad



http://www.qh.xinhuanet.com/qztlw/20...nt_4878019.htm
Workers



http://www.qh.xinhuanet.com/qztlw/20...nt_4878017.htm
Lunch time


http://www.qh.xinhuanet.com/qztlw/20...nt_4792991.htm
Building a bridge


http://www.qh.xinhuanet.com/qztlw/20...nt_4792991.htm
Moving construction materials.



http://www.qh.xinhuanet.com/qztlw/20...nt_4784073.htm
Today's transportation system in Tibet.




http://www.qh.xinhuanet.com/qztlw/20...nt_4727917.htm
Laying the rail at attitude of 4704 meters


http://www.qh.xinhuanet.com/qztlw/20...nt_4712931.htm
Workers




http://www.qh.xinhuanet.com/qztlw/20...nt_4682550.htm
Oxygeon station where workers have to stay for 4 or 5 hours every day for health.



http://www.qh.xinhuanet.com/qztlw/20...nt_4701346.htm
Road in Deqing area.


http://www.qh.xinhuanet.com/qztlw/20...nt_4670841.htm
A bridge


http://www.qh.xinhuanet.com/qztlw/20...nt_4670841.htm
Maintain the railroad.



http://www.qh.xinhuanet.com/qztlw/20...nt_4614376.htm
The longest tunal along the road.


http://www.qh.xinhuanet.com/qztlw/20...nt_4584903.htm
Building a bridge


http://www.qh.xinhuanet.com/qztlw/20...nt_4572623.htm
CCP members always do the dengerous and hard work. Even Chinese hate CCP's corruption. But Chinese know CCP members always are in the dengerous front.



http://www.qh.xinhuanet.com/qztlw/20...nt_4554197.htm
He is reported as the first train driver in this line.

Jay

Thanks! As Lemontree said, its impressive!!

oneman28

Find any secret? I don't think so.

Jay

Atleast its not advertised in the English media (incld Chinese) like the Maglev project.

5 out of 6 people in this world cannot read Chinese, and so we thot China is building the rail road secretly.