Train stations prepare for holiday rush

Railway stations in major cities have been preparing for the approaching peak travel season.

Beijing West Station is expecting 5.6 million passengers during this Spring Festival. February 10th to 12th will be the busiest days, with about 230 thousand passengers a day. The station set up additional 135 ticket windows, and will open up its south entrances for the first time.

Song Guoqiang, official of Beijing West Station, said, "There are four entrances in the south. Passengers arriving at the South Square can enter directly through these entrances. We are also adding 12 ticket windows in the South Square."

Beijing West Station will set up one additional waiting area. It can accommodate 15,000 people.

In China's southern city Guangzhou, 160,000 railway station staff are in training. Trains and rail equipment are being tested and maintained. Temporary waiting areas covering 2 thousand square meters have been set up for those waiting in tickets or trains.

Huang Xin, Passenger Travel Director Guangzhou Railway Group, said, "Guangzhou Station is expecting 24.9 million outbound passengers. That's 6.8 percent more than last year."

Zhengzhou, in central China's Henan Province, says it's seeing more passengers, but ticket sales have been smooth.

A passenger at Zhengzhou Station, said, "I didn't wait long to buy a ticket."

A passenger at Zhengzhou Station, said, "It is easier to buy a ticket this year."

Zhengzhou Station has extended window opening hours, allowing telephone reservation and selling tickets in mobile vehicles. It has special help for migrant workers and students.

Sun Yuling, ticket vice director of Zhengzhou Station, said, "Based on passengers and trains, we plan to add special windows any time to deal with travel peak."

The Zhengzhou station has three plans to deal with ordinary travel volume, sudden travel rush and emergency travel peak. It will add 69 pairs of temporary trains. It's expected 8.6 million passengers will pass through, with the daily number as high as 380,000.