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Inbound rail passenger numbers peak in south China

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-02-21 11:45

GUANGZHOU: Inbound passenger numbers peaked in south China's Guangdong province, with 600,000 rail passengers arriving Sunday, said local railway authorities.

The first peak of inbound passenger numbers was expected between Feb 18 and 23 as the week-long Spring Festival holiday drew to an end, said Huang Xin, spokesman of Guangzhou Railway Group.

The passengers were mainly those returning from holiday and migrant workers seeking employment in Guangdong, Huang said.

"Half of the 600,000 passengers are transported by the 138 trains added during the Spring Festival vacation," Huang said.

To accommodate the massive passenger numbers, Guangzhou Railway Group had opened more exits at railway stations inside Guangdong, an economic powerhouse, said Huang.

The second peak of inbound passengers was expected to occur between March 1 and 3, with students returning for study and more migrant workers flowing in.

Spring Festival is an occasion for reunions of family members, relatives and friends. It is the most important traditional Chinese festive event in a year. The Spring Festival holiday this year began Feb 13 and ended Friday.