Officials say the group booking service aims to ensure most of the migrant workers get tickets and can return to their hometown before Spring Festival.

Zhang Jucai, an official from the Beijing Railway Bureau, says all the group tickets should be booked before January 17, three weeks before the traditional Lunar New Year, which falls on February 9th.

"Migrant workers can book tickets dated between January 20 and February 7."

As many as four million migrant workers are now working in Beijing, which has put heavy pressure on the transportation infrastructure during spring festivals when most of them go back to their hometowns.

Nationwide, 30% of the passengers during the 2004 Spring Festival are migrant workers. They make up the largest passenger group during the spring festival, but it's usually difficult for them to get train tickets.

The new booking service will not only be convenient for migrant workers but also ease the pressure on the transportation department during the Spring Festival.

The construction workers in Beijing, which total 800,000 and account for the majority of the migrant workers, are expected to benefit most from the service. Since they live and work together, it is easy for them to book group tickets.

Zhu Jucai also says at least 300 hundred tickets should be included in one order and at least 20 tickets required for one destination the same day.

"It is estimated that 100 thousand tickets will be booked. We are also planning to start special trains for migrant workers who share the same destinations and departure time."

The official adds that unlike normal, no commission fees will be charged for the booking.

(CRI December 21, 2004)