The train to [tag]Lhasa[/tag], [tag]Tibet[/tag] is already operating for more than a week now, so not much news in that.
I just happened to run into a nice site that next to some great timetables for [tag]China[/tag] also has the [tag]Beijing – Lhasa Timetable[/tag] in English. As a [tag]foreigner[/tag] you need a permit though which will add a substantial amount to the ticket cost.
The [tag]Shanghai Daily[/tag] mentioned sometime before that
“The first [tag]Qinghai[/tag]-Tibet railway tour packages to depart from [tag]Shanghai[/tag] will be on July 16. Packages went on sale yesterday.
“An eight-day tour costs 12,000 yuan (US$1,500) for foreign passport holders.The price includes a travel permit, meals, accommodation and all transportation. The entry permit to Tibet can only be purchased with a tour package. [tag]Chinese travelers[/tag] will pay 7,500 yuan each as they don’t have to purchase a permit to enter the Tibet Autonomous Region.”
With my limited mathematical skills that comes down to a travel permit price of 4500, which is about 563 US [tag]dollar[/tag] or about 439 [tag]Euros[/tag] .. which means a total [tag]ripoff[/tag] etc. It seems this permit is more of a nice cashcow than for any other reason.
I’ll wait till the permit prices have rationalized or rather the permit has been abolished.
Sources: Tibet-Qinghai rail packages, Beijing – Lhasa Timetable