Average daily railway trips plummet due to outbreak

China's railway network saw an average of 1.84 million trips each day between Jan 25 and Feb 14, down 83 percent from a previous estimation of 11.2 million each day, due to the novel coronavirus outbreak, a senior manager with the national railway operator said on Saturday.

The total number of railway trips made during the period was less than 40 million, compared to an estimated 280 million, said Li Wenxin, deputy general manager of China Railway Corporation, at a news conference held by the State Council Information Office.

In addition, daily railway trips have totaled less than 1 million for four consecutive days since Feb 11, he said.

"Based on our study, we do not believe that the railway network is likely to see a return-trip travel peak in the following days," he added.