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Tibet railway moving troops
03 December 2006
(Xinhua) The Chinese military has begun using the Golmud-Lhasa railway to
transport hundreds of troops. Xinhua reports: "The 1,956-km railway, which has
cut transport costs by 70 per cent for local trade, is expected to play an
important role in national defence". Liu Hanbin, an ex-soldier from Yunnan
province, is quoted as saying that the train was the most economical transport
off the plateau. "It costs more than US$50 (UKŁ25; EUR€39) and takes four days
to go from Lhasa to Chengdu by bus and a flight can cost US$206 (UKŁ105;
EUR€155.80). But a train hard seat costs just US$37.5 (UKŁ19.17; EUR€28.37)", he
said. In the past, the People's Liberation Army stationed in Tibet have relied
on road and air transport for personnel and materials.
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