BEIJING, Decmber 3, 2001 (Xinhuanet) -- According to the latest edition of Beijing Review, construction of the Qinghai-Tibet railway, one of the largest projects in China's western development, has been going ahead smoothly since its initiation in mid 2001.

    On June 29, 2001, construction of the railway simultaneously began at Golmud in Qinghai Province and Lhasa in Tibet.

    The railway is planned to be 1,142 km long, including 1,110 km new line and 32 km upgraded rail. Starting from Golmud in Qinghai, the railway will pass through Nachitai, Wudaoliang, Tuotuohe and Yanshiping before climbing over Tanggula Mountain to get to Amdo, Nagqu, Damxung, Yangbajain and Lhasa in Tibet.

    Its highest point is 5,072 meters above sea level. About 960 km of the railway will be built 4,000 meters above sea level and 632 km of its tracks will be laid on permanently frozen ground. The highland railway will break world records for its height and length.

    In addition to the extremely cold weather, lack of oxygen, fragile ecology and complicated geological conditions, the frequent earthquakes, landslides, mud and rock flows require complicated techniques to be undertaken for the project, which is expected to take six years to complete and cost 26.2 billion yuan.

    With its capability to handle trains and all-weather service, the railway will play an indispensable role in improving Tibet¡¯s transportation, promote the economic and social progress of Qinghai and Tibet, and strengthen contact between China¡¯s western and eastern regions. Since its initiation in mid 2001, construction has been going ahead smoothly.

    Design and Construction of the Project

    With the combined efforts of related departments, the project¡¯s prospecting work has been completed, the design of the line in permafrost section from Golmud to Wangkun has been done, and that for the Wangkun-Tanggula section is under way. Constructors have now arrived at worksites and the project has begun in a planned and scientific way. The 147 km roadbed from Golmud to Wangkun, as well as the Nanshankou Track-laying Center, has been built, establishing a foundation for the laying of rails next year. In the meantime, experiments in four sections of permanently frozen earth have started. Work on 55 bridges and three tunnels have begun and, by the end of this year, a total investment of 770 million yuan would have been poured in.

    So far, 8.8 million cubic meters of stones have been laid on the railway bed, 5,900 meters of bridges built, 6,000 meters of culverts and more than 500 meters of tunnels dug. Constructors have emphasized quality throughout the course of the project. They mapped out effective measures, set up a complete management system and deputed certain responsibilities to everyone and formed a supervisory group. With these measures taken, the quality of the project is very good.