Source: CCTV.com

02-05-2007 14:32

Passengers sit in a train carriage at a railway station in Shanghai before a 40 hour journey to Chengdu, capital of southwestern Sichuan province February 8, 2007.

Today enters the third day of passenger rush period during the Spring Festival holidays. But the rush seems to be a little more manageable than last year.

Because the traditional New Year holidays began much earlier in colleges this year, most students have already made it home pre-travel rush. That has significantly lessened the burden on the travel rush. And migrant workers have now become the transportation networks' main focus, to provide their services.

Railways are beginning to get crowded. According to figures released by railway stations of Beijing, over 200,000 passengers in the capital are taking trains back home on Sunday, the second day of the 40 day travel rush. Most are migrant workers.

Other modes of transportation are still in normal operation. On Saturday, long-distance buses carried around 50 million passengers, while over 600,000 people traveled by sea or river.

Different measures have also been taken to facilitate ticket purchasing of tourists. In Shenzhen for example, for the first time, passengers can get a bus ticket as soon as they send a short message to the ticket selling centers.