Record Passenger Volume for Guangzhou Group
China Railway Guangzhou Group, a prominent railway service operator in South China, has announced that it has transported over 50 million passengers since the commencement of the annual Spring Festival travel rush. This significant milestone was reached as the travel period, known as 'Chunyun', continues to see high demand across the nation. The group, based in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, is a key player in managing the massive passenger flows during this peak season.
The 2026 Spring Festival Travel Rush in Context
The 2026 Spring Festival travel rush officially began on February 2, 2026, and is scheduled to conclude on March 13, 2026, spanning a total of 40 days. This period is widely recognized as the world's largest annual human migration, with an unprecedented 9.5 billion cross-regional trips anticipated nationwide. Railways across China are expected to handle approximately 539 million journeys during this time. The nine-day Spring Festival holiday, which fell between February 15 and February 23, saw China's national railway networks manage a total of 121 million passenger trips.
Operational Efforts and Projections
The China Railway Guangzhou Group has been at the forefront of managing the surge in travelers. On February 23, the 23rd day of the travel rush, the group estimated handling nearly 2.6 million passengers, marking a 15.4% year-on-year rise. To accommodate the high passenger volume, the group planned to operate 3,946 trains on February 24, including 1,419 high-speed train units and an additional 745 trains, with 469 being nighttime high-speed services. Looking ahead, the Guangzhou Railway Group projects handling a total of 60.29 million passengers throughout the entire 2026 Spring Festival travel rush, which would establish a new historical record for the group.
Ensuring Smooth Travel
Railway authorities have implemented various measures to ensure safe, orderly, and efficient travel. These include increasing transport capacity on major routes, enhancing services at stations and onboard trains, and utilizing real-time crowd-management software. Stations like Guangzhou Baiyun Station have improved transfer efficiency by adding new entrances and upgrading passenger facilities, allowing for rapid transfers. The sustained high passenger flow is attributed to the overlap of workers returning to operations, family visitors, and students resuming studies after the Spring Festival holiday.
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