The highest railway opened in Tibet today without a hitch. Over 5,000 metres above sea level at some points it runs over 1,000 km from Lhasa in Tibet to Beijing in Qinghai province. It is a feat of engineering and even the trains incorporate special air-conditioning systems in order to cope with the thin air in the high altitudes [BBC]. At Lhasa, in Tibet, the altitude is 3,600 metres above sea level and even the reporter covering the launch for CCTV-9 said she had experienced shortness of breath and that it had taken two days for her to adjust to the thinner air. The railway is likely to increase the tourist industry for Tibet significantly. But there are also worries that there will be a greater environmental impact from as a result of the increased human traffic [BBC]
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