Catching the train provides the ideal shortcut

Railway operators are starting to launch packages for drivers who want to take their cars on the train for motoring holidays. [Photo/China Daily]

Railway operators are starting to launch packages for drivers who want to take their cars on the train for motoring holidays.

Beijing Railway Bureau plans to run two special services for vehicles this month for tourists heading to the Tibet autonomous region on driving trips.

"The railway bureau has received plenty of demand for self-driving trips to Tibet recently, and we will launch special trains in the summer," Sun Yutang, director of Beijing Railway Bureau's communication department, said.

One service will run from Beijing to Chengdu, where passengers can then take the Sichuan-to-Tibet highway. This is known as the road to heaven because of the glorious views through snow-covered mountains.

The second train will run from Beijing's West Railway Station to Xining, Qinghai province. Passengers can then switch to their cars and head along the Qinghai-to-Tibet highway.

This is the highest-altitude freeway in the world and winds through the Tanggula Mountains, which is 5,150 meters above sea level.

The cost of transporting vehicles can vary depending on the size of the car. You could pay up to 5,600 yuan ($902) for larger vehicles on the rail route from Beijing to Chengdu.

"We are preparing the trains now and examining conditions for loading vehicles, such as special platforms to pick up and offload cars," Sun said.

The Beijing West Railway Station, where trains run to Lhasa, already has a loading bay for vehicles. But stations at some destinations, such as Lhasa, still need to be upgraded.

Beijing Railway Bureau started its first special service for vehicles on Oct 1 last year during the Golden Week holiday.

Around 60 vehicles were transported by train from Beijing to Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. The cost of a return trip was 3,000 yuan per car. "It proved very popular," Sun said.

The Beijing railway operator is not the only group trying to market motoring trips. Other regions have also launched special trains for vehicles this year.

Zhengzhou in Henan province, which is at the heart of China's rail network, rolled out its first special service for passengers with cars on May 4. It departed from Zhengzhou's North Station for Chongqing municipality.

Railway authorities in city of Lhasa as well as Guizhou and Fujian provinces are also planning to run special trains. In Shanghai, a service for passengers with cars was launched in February to the scenic spot of Huangshan in Anhui province.

"China's railway operator already has a large piece of the pie from the tourism sector and this latest innovation for cars is welcomed," Cai Fei, an analyst from Chnrailway.com, the largest rail industry portal in China, said.