China is expected to see a peak of railway traffic on Feb. 12, the last day of the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday, said the Ministry of Railways in Beijing on Sunday.

Post-Spring Festival railway traffic peak saw more than five million passengers in one day last year and we expect more in 2008, predicted the ministry.

About 3.5 million passengers traveled by railway on Saturday, 500,000 more in number than the previous day, said the ministry.

The railways are expected to carry a record 178.6 million passengers during the 40 days, up from 156 million last year, according to the ministry.

Chunyun, or the Spring Festival transport season, is an annual test to China's transportation system.

(Xinhua News Agency February 11, 2008)