China railways gear up for peak festival time

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 ◆ China railways gear up for peak festival time

An estimated 130 million persons will travel by train in China between Jan. 17 and Feb. 25 next year, a Chinese railway official has predicted.

The figure will be 1.66 million persons, or 1 percent, more than the number of passenger flow in the similar festival railway traffic this year, said Hu Yadong, director of the Transport Bureau of China's Ministry of Railways.

The majority of passengers will be students, migrant workers and tourists, he said.

The Spring Festival for 2003, the Chinese New Year, falls on Feb. 1. It is a tradition day for family reunion.

The ministry has mapped out three plans for festival transport, including the operation of additional trains for students and migrant workers, Hu said.