CCTV News: The State Council Information Office held a press conference on the Spring Festival travel rush on January 8. Zhu Wenzhong, deputy director of the Passenger Transport Department of China Railway Group, said at the meeting that the overall passenger flow of railways during the Spring Festival travel rush this year will grow steadily. The number of passengers sent by railways nationwide is expected to exceed 510 million, with an average daily number of 12.75 million, an increase of 5.5% year-on-year compared with the 2024 Spring Festival travel rush.

China Railway Corporation coordinates the needs of passenger transportation and freight supply guarantee, makes every effort to ensure the safe, orderly and warm travel of the broad masses of people and the smooth operation of the national economy.

First, fully tap transportation potential and maximize passenger transportation capacity. In 2024, the national railway operating mileage exceeded 162,000 kilometers, of which the high-speed rail exceeded 48,000 kilometers, further enhancing the accessibility and coverage of the modern railway network. We deeply explore routes and equipment resources, maximize transportation capacity, focus on increasing the transportation capacity in the Spring Festival travel rush, coordinate and arrange trains in the direction of concentrated passenger flow, maintain the scale of ordinary-speed passenger trains, and drive public welfare "slow trains" and "rural revitalization" passenger trains to facilitate people's travel. More than 14,000 passenger trains are arranged every day, and about 500,000 seats can be added every day, and the passenger capacity has increased by about 4% year-on-year, making every effort to ensure the travel needs of the majority of passengers.

The second is to continuously improve service measures according to passengers' travel needs. The focus is on six aspects: First, optimize the functions of the 12306 system, scientifically formulate ticket sales strategies, optimize the pre-filling function of ticket purchase information, increase ticket sales services for students and migrant workers, ensure the travel of key groups, and further improve the ticket purchase experience of passengers. The second is to strengthen the organization of passenger boarding and landing, increase security inspection verification channels, reasonably set up passenger flow lines and waiting areas for entry and exit of the station, and add young volunteers and staff in key places. The third is to provide services for key passengers, optimize service rules, and improve online and offline response efficiency. Major passenger stations across the country have set up green channels, maternal and infant waiting rooms and station medical points. The green channels mainly facilitate urgent passengers and key passengers with elderly, children, sick, disabled and pregnant 15 minutes before driving are given priority to get in the station to board. Fourth, improve passenger on-road services. Improve station charging facilities to facilitate passengers' use. Enrich the categories of meal supply, expand the scope of hot-chain meal supply stations, and provide passengers with a variety of catering options. Fifth, increase the intensity of ticket discounts and implement preferential fares for some passenger trains in non-tensive periods and directions. The maximum discount for ordinary speed trains is as low as 20% off, and the maximum discount for EMUs is as low as 30% off, so that passengers can not only have more travel options but also get benefits. Sixth, improve the level of transportation connection information service, and use 12306 SMS, WeChat and other information notification channels to accurately push the business hours and temporary adjustments of municipal transportation such as subways and buses to passengers in some cities, so that passengers can better choose transportation connection and transfer methods.

The third is to coordinate the needs of cargo transportation and increase efforts to ensure supply and smooth flow. Give full play to the advantages of centralized and unified dispatching and command of the national railway, scientifically utilize the channel capabilities, optimize and adjust the loading structure, give priority to ensuring the transportation of coal for power generation and heating, and make every effort to ensure the transportation of key materials such as holiday daily necessities, grain, agriculture, and sidelines, and spring farming fertilizers, effectively help reduce the logistics costs of the whole society, and provide support for the smooth operation of the national economy and the production and living needs of the people.

Fourth, comprehensively provide safety guarantees to ensure orderly progress of the Spring Festival travel rush. Strengthen patrol and maintenance of key driving equipment and facilities such as railway contact networks, turnouts, rolling stocks, communication signals, etc. in advance to ensure the safe and smooth railway artery. Strengthen the control and fire protection management of key safety links to ensure railway driving safety and transportation order. Actively prevent and respond to low-temperature, rain, snow and freezing disasters, take preventive measures ahead of schedule, and actively avoid safety risks. Strictly implement the 24-hour duty system for key positions, make arrangements for emergency duty personnel, equipment and spare parts, reserve internal combustion locomotives and rescue personnel on major railway trunk lines and hubs, and strengthen emergency drills for various emergencies to ensure emergency preparedness.