Source: CCTV.com

01-19-2008 14:54

Special Report:   2008 Spring Festival

The annual Spring Festival travel peak period has been put into operation ahead of time. The Ministry of Railways says that's due to the record number of travellers.

Railway passengers reached about 4 million in both Wednesday and Thursday.

Railway passengers reached about 4 million in both Wednesday and Thursday, up 400 thousand over last year. The record number ushers in the earliest start of Spring Festival travel peak season in China's railway history.

Wang Yongping, spokesman of Ministry of Railways, said, "The Spring Festival transportation starts from the 18th, six days ahead of schedule. That means there are 21 pre-festival travel days instead of previous 15 days. The after-festival travel days remain 25."

The railways are expected to carry 179 million passengers this year, more than 8 percent over last year. A string of measures are in place to ensure smooth operation.