Getting own train tickets, need TTB permit

Hi,

I've been following a lot of the threads, and realize that getting train tickets from Chengdu to Lhasa seems pretty much impossible. But we really really want to take the train. I had contacted Sim's, but they said to find them when we arrive because they cannot promise that they can get the tickets. But that may mean waiting for 10 days or something. So I know some people in China and may be able to get a local to buy our train tickets ahead of time. Does anyone know if the travel agencies in Chengdu will work some way out to get us the TTB permits? We are willing to pay some commission (as is typical) and even a night's hotel in Lhasa or something. Is this possible? Has anyone else done this?

Thanks in advance for your help!

When we got our tickets through Sims, they also told us they couldnt guarantee tickets. Eventually they managed to get them but if they couldnt, we were going to fly in and train out. Our negotiations for permits and tickets were started before we left home and 10 days before date of travel. We travelled in April, before the supposed busy time.<BR>

You can contact this id I heard he can arrange train and permit. tenzinsheerap@hotmail.com.

Thanks for your responses. But I want to be certain to get the train tickets, so Sims' response was not certain enough for me. We do not want to fly in and train out because we are heading to Kathmandu from Lhasa, and not back to China. And we are traveling just a few days before the Oct. national holiday week, which I worry will be busy. So if I can get the train tickets, is there any possibility of getting just the permits through a travel agency?

I will try to contact your reference though, sindy00. Thanks!

This sounds like some posters would advise: get your own tickets, forget about the permit and hope you don't get caught.
Cheers!

I think you'll find any travel agent worth his pinch of salt wont guarantee tickets. Whats the first thing you'd do?? Complain here and hope for sympathy.

After more than a month of getting "we can't guarantee that we'll get you a ticket," (Beijing->Lhasa) I've become resigned to the fact that if I'm not willing to wait for one to become available (starting 09/21), I'll have to find an alternate means of transportatiion.

And the commission they expect makes the ticket 2-3 times what the price would be if you could get one at the station.

Almost universally, they're telling me to fly. As one who loves to ride trains, that's not the answer I want to hear.

As stated above, you will not get any of the reputable agencies to tell you anything else.

Well, from other threads and some travel agents, it looks like sleeper tickets are available only 10 days before the date of departure. So that's why they can't guarantee it. I'll see if my local friend can get the tickets, and if not, looks like there might be more availability for the train from Xining to Lhasa (do a search for that thread). So if all else fails, I don't mind switching courses and stopping in Xining.

I'd try to get to Golmud and then either extend your ticket to Lhasa on the train or get off and buy a ticket for the next train. Hard seat tickets were not hard to get the day before probably even the day off judging by the empty seats on my train. No permit was ever asked for, buying, getting on, during, or getting off. In my opinion its worth "the risk" if there even is any, recorded anouncements on the train made it sound like you could get one at the train station in Lhasa once you arrived. I didn't get one there either.

<blockquote>Quote
<hr>Hard seat tickets were not hard to get the day before probably even the day off judging by the empty seats on my train. No permit was ever asked for, buying, getting on, during, or getting off.<hr></blockquote>

So, can anyone answer whether this applies to Beijing -> Lhasa? I wouldn't mind saving the nearly $100 in commissions that the travel agents expect for the ticket and permit.

#9: I think #8 specifically refers only to Golmud -- Lhasa.
Cheers!