China Railway expects 19.76 million passengers on National Day

China Railway is projecting a significant surge in travel, expecting to transport 19.76 million passengers today, September 30, as the nation observes its National Day holiday.

The increased demand is reflected in the 13.74 million passengers recorded on September 29, a 6.5% rise year-on-year. To manage this peak travel period, an additional 2,053 trains have been scheduled, including overnight high-speed services on popular routes.

This surge aligns with broader travel trends observed throughout the year. From January to August, China's railways carried 3.32 billion passengers, a 3.9% increase compared to the same period last year, setting a new record for the first eight months. Daily train services averaged 11,508 during this period, up 5.0%.

International travel via rail has also seen notable growth. The Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link transported 23.4 million cross-border passengers, a 10.7% increase. The China-Laos Railway saw 245,000 cross-border travelers, up 39.1%. In total, 16.68 million foreign nationals traveled by train, marking a 33.3% year-on-year rise.