Reporter experiences Spring Festival travel rush at station and on train

BEIJING - "Please take a seat, your train hasn't arrived yet. When it's time, we'll help you board," said Du Jinglin, a duty officer of the Beijing Railway Station Suling Service Group, as she warmly greeted a 74-year-old man on Friday, a day also known as Xiao Nian, which literally means "Minor New Year" in Chinese. This day is traditionally seen in North China as the prologue of the Spring Festival.

Suling Service Group is committed to providing special care to priority passengers, including the elderly, children, the disabled, and pregnant women. Based on details of reservations made through 12306, China's official railway ticketing portal, the service group meticulously arranges tailored services from entering and exiting the station to boarding and disembarking, to ensure a seamless and safe travel experience.

"Some passengers may not be aware of this priority passenger service. We proactively look for those who may need help and offer our support promptly," said passenger service attendant Cui Shengyang. A few days ago, station staff noticed an elderly person with a vision impairment entering the station alone. They quickly contacted the service team. The team helped the passenger comfortably settle in the waiting area and provided a contact number for the service group, so that in the future, the passenger can easily request assistance during travels.

The 2024 Spring Festival travel rush started on Jan 26 and will end on March 5th, spanning 40 days, including 15 days before and 25 days after the festival.

"During the Spring Festival travel rush, Beijing Station is expected to serve 4.52 million passengers, averaging 113,000 daily, an increase of 2.05 million passengers, or 83.1 percent, compared with 2023. A peak travel day is expected on Feb 7 with 192,000 passengers," said Sun Haishen, an official at the Beijing Railway Station.

During the Spring Festival travel rush, Beijing's major train stations will offer express lanes for passengers boarding within 20 minutes, and provide complimentary charging stations in waiting areas, thereby accommodating the emergency charging needs of at least five passengers at a time for electronic devices including laptops and mobile phones. In addition, at least two portable power banks will be available on conventional trains to help address the emergency phone charging needs of passengers.

Since the commencement of the 2024 Spring Festival travel rush, passenger flow at the Beijing Railway Station has significantly increased, reflecting the atmosphere of China's family reunion culture and the trend of tourism consumption during the Chinese New Year.

Meanwhile, ice and snow tourism as epitomized by Harbin in northeast China has been heating up in recent times. Ye Yuli, captain of a Beijing-Harbin high-speed train crew, said that due to the boom in ice and snow tourism, this line has been as busy as the Spring Festival rush since late December 2023.

To make passengers feel at home on this route, the crew prepared a "service box" containing items such as sewing kits, band-aids, disposable masks, and multi-function chargers to meet the needs of the journey.

"Considering the severe cold of northeast China's winter, we also prepared hand heating pads and brown sugar ginger tea, which are distributed free of charge to passengers in need," Ye told Xinhua.

Recently, some high-speed trains originating from east China's Xiamen have introduced "kids' cabins" in the dining cars, significantly easing travel for families with children. These dedicated areas ensure a more tranquil environment for fellow passengers, in addition to providing a joyful and entertaining space for young travelers. Such an approach to young travelers is also evident in high-speed trains across the northeast, with Ye having prepared children's building blocks, books, colored pencils, and fans for coloring.

To add a festive touch to the train, Ye invited two 7-year-old twin girls to paste the dining car windows with Spring Festival decorations in traditional patterns.

"I hope the children's journey is not just about moving from one place to another, but also a creative and fun exploration. By continuously innovating services, we can enrich and enhance the high-speed rail experience, continually improving our understanding and care for the diverse needs of passengers," said Ye.

Ye, a Beijing woman who has picked up a northeastern accent during her work, has been with the railway since June 2013 and is now a seasoned train captain. Looking back at the past decade, she said, "I'm often away for extended periods, but my family has always been supportive, especially during the Spring Festival travel season. I usually work from six in the morning until eleven at night. But when I see passengers happily reaching their destinations and joyfully celebrating the New Year, I feel that all the hard work is rewarding."

The captain said ranging from conventional trains to high-speed trains, the past ten years have seen continuous improvements in China's railway environment, which always adapts to the needs of passengers.

"My ten-year career has also grown alongside the changes in the railways," Ye added.

On the eve of the Spring Festival, the last train Ye serves will arrive in Beijing at eight in the evening. It will be the first time in ten years that she can return home on New Year's Eve to reunite with her family.

"My family told me they would wait for me at home and enjoy the reunion dinner together," she shared with obvious anticipation.