Travel Permit is required if you want to travel to Tibet, if you provide the passport copies (photo page, visa page), the travel agency could arrange it for you, it usually takes 15-20 days to arrange it.
If you need it, you may contact us to help you further.
Kind regards,
Linda Lin
Wonders Of Yunnan Travel
www.wondersofyunnan.com
t: 0871-3512729
e: info@wondersofyunnan.com
I'd say Wonders Of Yunnan Travel, they are Yunnan based, and only offer private small group trips in Yunnan for English-speakers! So it's basiclly what you are looking for!
Besides the train sation, you can buy them in travel companies as well. The tickets are only open for sale 6-10 days before departure, in some high seasons, it's very hard to get the train tickets to Dali, Lijiang for example.
Here is a company who sells train tickets, the staffs speak English, they bring the tickets to airport upon your arrival or the hotel which you stay, you may book tickets online and price is reasonale as well.