China's railways handle 302 million passenger trips during holiday travel period

 

(ECNS) -- China's 16-day railway transport period covering the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays concluded on Thursday.

During the period, the country's railways handled 302 million passenger trips and 192 million metric tons of freight, up 24.6% and 5% year-on-year, respectively, according to China State Railway Group Co. 

The country's railways ran an average of 13,300 passenger trains a day, up 3.3% year on year. On the first day of the holiday, they operated 14,885 passenger trains and handled 25.204 million passenger trips, both setting new daily records.

To support holiday tourism, railway authorities ran themed trains offering scenic tours, wellness trips and visits to revolutionary sites, helping stimulate tourism and holiday spending.

Cross-border rail services also saw significant passenger traffic. The Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong high-speed railway and the China-Laos Railway recorded 1.66 million and 14,000 cross-border passenger trips, respectively.

In freight operations, the national railway system loaded an average of 197,000 railcars per day, helping ensure the transport of essential supplies such as coal, grain and fertilizer.

(By Helen Mo & intern Liu Shuangjing)