Top Biz News
Tickets with names could slash scalping
By Xin Dingding and Wang Yan (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-01-21 09:14
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Passengers pour into the Beijing West Railway Station yesterday, the first day of the Spring Festival travel period. [China Daily] |
New measure will be tested during Spring Festival travel
The Ministry of Railways may adopt a name-based train ticket system in the future, depending on travelers' responses to a trial operation at 37 railway stations this Spring Festival.
The ministry has drafted a plan of action and made technical preparations for adopting the disputed name-based system, Gao Xiaobing, publicity affairs director with the Ministry of Railways, told a press conference yesterday.
But whether the name-based system can stop scalpers and make tickets easier for travelers to get during the peak traffic season between Jan 30 and March 10 will still be wait and see, she said.
Some 100 million yuan ($14.65 million) has been spent to upgrade the ticket-selling systems at 37 railway stations in Guangdong, Sichuan and Guizhou provinces and Chongqing municipality, according to ministry spokesman Wang Yongping.
Passengers need to show identification when buying train tickets at these railway stations, and each passenger can buy no more than three tickets. ID information will be printed on the ticket, and passengers need to present both ID and the ticket to get on the train.
"The trial run, as well as several other measures, are a breakthrough in our efforts to make train ticket sales fair and transparent," Gao said.
The other measures include firing employees who help scalpers, and looking into the responsibility of officials whose departments are found to be involved in scalping due to poor management or dereliction of duty. The worst could face dismissal, she said.
A website, 12306.cn, will also be opened during peak traffic, providing information on how many tickets are left for a specific train.
The ministry forecast that 210 million railway trips will be made in the 40 days starting Jan 30, 9.5 percent higher than the same period last year.
Many people will face ticket shortages, massive crowds and possible weather difficulties as they try to get home for next month's Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb 14 this year, coinciding with Valentine's Day.
Spokesman Wang said the name-based train ticket system may not be a good solution to ticket shortages.
"The name-based train ticket system will not add one more ticket. Whether it could stop scalpers is unknown. But, it will cost passengers time," he said.
