China’s Railway Operator Braces for Surge in Return Trips as National Day Holiday Ends
Beijing, The Gulf Observer: China’s railway network is preparing for a surge in return trips on Sunday as the week-long National Day holiday comes to a close. According to China State Railway Group Co., Ltd., the operator expects 18.73 million train journeys on this day alone, with over 1,400 additional trains scheduled to meet the heightened demand.
The railway network is experiencing a peak in return travel, particularly with a sharp rise in long-distance trips. For the past six days, daily passenger numbers have exceeded 17 million, highlighting the continued high travel demand during the holiday period.
By 9 a.m. on Sunday, 155 million tickets had been sold via China’s official railway ticket-booking platform, 12306.cn, and its mobile app, during the “golden week” travel period, underscoring the heavy usage of the railway system.
To accommodate the massive influx of passengers, railway authorities across the country have added extra trains on popular routes and increased capacity to ensure smooth and efficient travel. Local railway stations have also optimized entry and exit processes to guarantee the safe and orderly return of passengers.
The 10-day National Day holiday travel rush, from September 29 to October 8, is expected to handle a total of 175 million passenger trips, as China’s extensive railway network continues to play a key role in the country’s holiday travel system.