The Qinghai-Tibet Railway carried 450,000 passengers and 100,000 tons of goods up to September 18, said Railway Ministry spokesman Wang Yongping on Monday.

The world's highest railtrack is playing an increasingly important role in the social and economic development of Qinghai Province and the Tibet Autonomous Region, said the spokesman.

The volumes of coal, oil, metals, fertilizer and farm produce transported have increased significantly, he said.

Wang said most passengers are tourists. The main goods carried into Tibet are food, coal, consumer goods and building materials.

Wang said train services to Tibet from Shanghai and Guangzhou had been added for the upcoming National Day period.

The spokesman said the railway is operating in a stable and efficient manner.

The altiplano trains, which started operations on July 1, are equipped with oxygen and double-glazing covered with ultraviolet radiation film.

With winter drawing closer, railway operations are being monitored closely, the spokesman said.

(Xinhua News Agency September 19, 2006)