Railway stations in the Chinese capital have been ordered to make full preparation for an expected soar of passenger flow which may begin on Thursday, the municipal railway administration said on Wednesday.

More than 360,000 passengers, mainly rural migrant workers and college students, were expected to embark on their homebound journey by train on Thursday, for family reunions during the upcoming Spring Festival, or the Chinese lunar new year which falls on Jan. 29 this year, according to the administration.

This passenger flow peak may last till Jan. 28, the lunar new year's eve, and the two major railway stations in Beijing, namely the Beijing Railway Station and the Beijing West Railway Station, are expected to handle a record daily passenger flow of 130,000 and 200,000 people respectively, said the administration.

According to the administration, Beijing railways will receive more than 10 million passengers during the Spring Festival rush season, which will last some 40 days from Jan. 14 to Feb. 22, a year-on-year increase of 5.16 percent.

To handle these passengers, the administration has prepared 84 pairs of additional passenger trains for the busiest railway lines, linking the capital to regional centers such as Chengdu, Chongqing, Wuhan, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

In addition, the railway stations have opened 440 ticket counters to provide 24-hour service.

Meanwhile, the Beijing municipal government has intensified efforts to guarantee the safety of the passengers during the festival season. Passengers are banned from carrying dangerous chemicals and materials that might trigger fires. And the local police vowed to punish ticket frauds harshly.

Since the year 2000, China has prolonged its three major public holidays, namely the Spring Festival, May Day and National Day, from three days to seven days. This has created the so-called "golden weeks," during which many people choose to travel across the country or have reunions with their families afar.

(Xinhua News Agency January 19, 2006)