Chinese passengers warned not to swarm to recovering railways

Source: Xinhua | 02-03-2008 08:57

BEIJING, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- China's railway watchdog has warned passengers not to worsen overcrowding at stations by flocking to the country's slowly-recovering rail network.

Passengers in Guangzhou Railway Station (Xinhua Photo)

Rail shipping capacity on the southern section of the Beijing-Guangzhou trunk rail line is gradually recovering from the snow snarl but remains limited, said Wang Yongping, Ministry of Railways spokesman, on Saturday.

He said stranded passengers must be sent on their way first, and advised others not to swarm train stations in case of causing traffic jams or wasting their time.

At least 1.4 million passengers in Guangzhou were still waiting to leave on trains at 6 a.m. on Saturday, the ministry said.

Wang said the 1.4 million people could board home-bound trains before the Spring Festival, or the Chinese Lunar New Year, which is five days away.