Getting a train ticket to go home is still a headache for millions of Chinese people before the Spring Festival. It's a common situation that after waiting in a long queue for a number of hours, one is told that all tickets are sold out.

A lack of transport capacity is counted as the major reason for the shortages of train tickets while scalpers are also blamed for stockpiling tickets and reselling them at higher prices.

So the real name-based train ticket selling system is welcomed by many ticket purchasers. A passenger at Guangzhou Railway Station said:

"I can only buy the tickets from scalpers every year before the Spring Festival. And the price of such a ticket is usually 200 kuai higher than its real price. I've been longing for a real name-based ticket selling system for a long time."

Under the system, the names and ID card numbers of passengers will be printed on their train tickets. Passengers must provide both their tickets and ID cards, or other accredited identity documents, when boarding. Students and foreigners can also purchase train tickets by providing student ID cards and passports.

However the process of purchasing a ticket is expected to take longer under the new regulations. Some passengers fear that as a result, the waiting lines at ticket booths will be longer and the boarding hall will become more crowded.

An official from Guangzhou Railway Group says although extra time will be needed to check identification, the stations are looking at ways to improve their service.

"In accordance with the new system, we will open more ticket selling windows and checking-in points, and add staff. These railway stations will also be equipped with automatic ID card reading machines. All our efforts are to reduce the time one needs to spend in buying a ticket or boarding a train."

As for other potential problems, the railway authorities have come up with different solutions.

"Some passengers may lose the ID documents after getting a ticket or just forget to bring the documents when boarding a train. So we'll assign railway policemen at the checking points to grant them temporary ID Cards in case of an emergency."

The Spring Festival travel peak will run between January 30th and March 10th this year. The Ministry of Railway predicts 210 million passengers will travel by train during the peak, an increase of 9.5 percent from the same time last year. A sudden influx into the stations and the introduction of the new sales system is going to provide a challenge for the railway departments.

It is still too early to tell if the new system will be a success in the world's most populous country.

 

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