150 million railway trips expected in China during May Day holiday

Some 150 million railway trips are expected during the May Day holiday in China, according to the country's Ministry of Culture and Tourism, with the passenger volume reaching its peak on May 1.

A train departs fromTianjin Railway Station in north China's Tianjin, May 1, 2019. China's railway system saw a rise in passenger numbers as the four-day Labor Day national holiday began on May 1. [Photo: Xinhua/Yang Baosen]

An additional 758 trains were deployed on Wednesday to meet the increased passenger flow, which on the first day of the four-day holiday reached 17.243 million passengers, a 44.3-percent increase from last year.

On Thursday, 11.94 million passengers made trips across the country's sprawling railway network, with some 530 extra trains put in service.

The railway departments have reminded passengers who made online bookings to get their tickets as early as possible during the holiday because of the dense passenger flow around major railway stations.

Passengers get ready to board a train at Tongren South Railway Station in Tongren, southwest China's Guizhou Province, May 1, 2019. China's railway system saw a rise in passenger numbers as the four-day Labor Day national holiday began on May 1. [Photo: Xinhua/Yao Lei]

Passengers should have their ticket along with a valid ID that matches their ticket information, and are asked to be at the station ahead of their scheduled departure time for check-in so as not to delay the journey.