Beijing saw a peak of railway traffic on Monday, when records at both railway stations in Beijing were re-written.

 

Passenger number at the Beijing Western Railway Station hit 190,000 on Sunday, smashing the record last year of 186,000. But officials with the station believed that the new record is to be further re-written, as more people are to board on trains on Tuesday immediately before the Spring Festival.

 

Beijing Railway Station handled 260,000 passengers on Sunday, among whom most were returning home for family reunions.

 

To ensure order and safety at the station, more than 100 staff were employed at entrances and exits, about 60 were dispatched to patrol and 200 police were on duty to help.

 

Chunyun, or the Spring Festival transport season, is an annual test to China's transportation system. It is estimated Beijing's railways will see 30.09 million passengers during Chunyun season this year, up seven percent over last year.

 

(Xinhua News Agency February 5, 2008)