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The Qingzang Railway is a project by the Chinese Government to build a unique railway linking Tibet with mainland China. The railway will include sections at high altitude, crossing 5000 metre high mountains, long tunnels and lots of track laid on permafrost. The railway is being hailed in China as "an engineering miracle", but has attracted criticism from across the world over fears that the railway will increase Chinese control over the Tibetian autonomous region and will erode Tibetian culture and traditions.

Currently, Tibet can only be reached by air and by road. Flying from low-altitude airports carries the risk of altitude sickness though, and the landing at Lhasa can be 'hair-raising'. Travelling by road means several days on a bus or hitchhiking on trucks over windy mountain roads. When the Quingzang Railway opens, it is expected that direct trains will run from Beijing and other cities.

China has long received criticism over its treatment of Tibet. The Tibet Autonomous Region excludes many areas claimed to be part of 'historic Tibet', and the former government of Tibet, headed by the Dalai Llama, now live in exile in India. China claims that the railway will bring greater freedoms and economic opportunities to the people of Tibet. For an area that has long been in relative isolation though, the railway is bound to have a profound effect. Locals may worry about what would happen to their trade if they are suddenly forced to compete with businesses from mainland China. Much of Tibet is also ancient, with old buildings and traditional practices which may be under threat from the new physical link with China.

There are also concerns from environmentalists. The passage between Tibet and China contains some unique flora and endagered animal species, such as Tibetian antelope, who may be threatened by the railroad. Construction of the railway will generate 7,000 tons of rubbish from 20,000 builders. Some of this rubbish will have been buried on the spot whilst some forms of non-degradeable rubbish which may pollute water is said to have been transported to Golmud or Lhasa for treatment. A bridge is also said to have been built at a the Wudaoliang Basin to enable animals to cross. Once open the railway will generate more waste, and whilst the carriages are said to be enclosed, preventing passengers from throwing out rubbish, it remains to be seen what additional impact the running of the railway will create.

As well as passengers, the railway will also have a strong use in transporting freight, currently carried on trucks. This will mean that more coal and petroleum-based products will be brought into Tibet. Whilst China claims that this will enable Tibetians to stop logging pine trees for fuel, aiding the local ecology, the railway will accelerate Tibet's use of climate-damaging fossil fuels.

Some Canadian student groups had called for a boycott of the Bombardier Transportation group, who have a contract with China to provide some of the carriages.

Most of the line is now complete, ahead of schedule. Signalling equipment is currently being installed, with trials said to begin in July. The railway is scheduled to open fully in 2007. Luxury carriages will carry tourists, with sleeping compartments and oxygen tanks to enable breathing within the high-altitude areas.

Sources: 

• Rupert Wingfield-Hayes "Railway raises fears for Tibet's future". BBC News Online, Thursday, 27 April 2006
• Jonathan Watts "The railway across the roof of the world". The Guardian, Tuesday September 20, 2005
• Cao Desheng "Qinghai-Tibet railway project steams ahead". China Daily, 2005-03-08 01:44
• Xinhua News Agency "Qinghai-Tibet Railway to Start Trial Operation". China Internet Information Center, April 12, 2005
• ZHANG HUA "The Qinghai-Tibet Railway: An Engineering Miracle". China Today, November 2002

This article was originally written and published at WikiNews.