China's railway network has achieved an impressive milestone, handling 230 million passenger trips from January 26 to February 14 during the first half of the 40-day Spring Festival travel rush, according to the China State Railway Group (CSRG).
On Thursday, the sixth day of the Spring Festival holiday, the national railway transported a staggering 15.16 million passengers, setting a new record for the highest single-day passenger volume during this period. CSRG anticipates transporting 15.3 million passengers on Friday, supported by an additional 1,813 passenger trains to accommodate the surge in demand.
The Spring Festival holiday, spanning from February 10 to 17, continues to see rising passenger flow as travelers return home. Ticket sales data from China’s official railway booking website, 12306.cn, indicates high outbound passenger volumes from major cities such as Beijing, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, Xi'an, Wuhan, Shanghai, Zhengzhou, Hangzhou, and Nanjing. Similarly, cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Wuhan, and Hangzhou are experiencing significant inbound passenger traffic.
Key railway sections between major cities, including Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Beijing, Shanghai, and the Chongqing-Chengdu corridor, are witnessing particularly large passenger flows. In Beijing, major railway stations are bustling with passengers, with an expected 535,000 rail passengers departing on Friday and an additional 78 passenger trains added. The city is also set to receive 727,000 passengers on the same day.
Across the nation, railway departments are enhancing capacity by adding passenger trains on popular routes, implementing measures to facilitate smooth travel, and improving onboard services. The Beijing Railway Group is collaborating with local station management to share passenger flow data and adjust public transport schedules, ensuring efficient and orderly connections for travelers.
In northern China, the Taiyuan Railway Group has introduced 73 temporary passenger trains, including 21 high-speed trains running overnight from Taiyuan, Shanxi, to Shanghai and Xi'an. Meanwhile, the Zhengzhou Railway Group in Henan Province has operated 56 high-speed trains at night and added 15 passenger trains to destinations such as Jiaozuo, Zhoukou, Taiyuan, and Nanjing.
The Spring Festival, which began on February 10 this year, is China's largest traditional festival, marking a period of massive travel as families reunite across the country.
Reference(s):
China sees 230m railway trips in first half of 2024 Spring Festival rush
cgtn.com
