19 January 2008
Work to begin on Shigatse rail link
(Xinhua) Construction is expected to begin during 2008 on the 254-km extension line of Qinghai-Tibet railway linking the cities of Lhasa and Shigatse (Chin: Xigaze). The line is expected to be completed by 2010 at a cost of US$1.42bn (UK£ 721.4m; EUR€ 960.5m) state media reported. "Experts are still working on the designs and environmental assessments of the extension line and, the government officials have started calculating compensation to those who will lose their land and properties to the railway", Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) chairman, Qiangba Puncog said in Lhasa.