Railways ramp up parcel services for Singles' Day shopping rush

China's railway authorities launched a 20-day express delivery operation on Sunday to handle the Singles' Day online shopping rush, with high-speed rail express capacity expected to increase 10 percent year-on-year, according to China Railway Express.  

The company, a logistics provider under China State Railway Group, the national railway operator, uses the railway network and road pickup and delivery services to transport parcels and freight door to door. The operation runs through Nov 20.

About 1,900 high-speed passenger trains will carry parcels daily using express storage cabinets and spare space, while around 78 trains will provide designated carriages or areas for shipments. Another 43 early-morning high-speed trains operating without passengers will carry express goods.

Three trains dedicated entirely to high-speed freight will serve routes linking Kunming and Chengdu, as well as Chengdu, Guangyuan and Guiyang.

Conventional rail services will also support deliveries, with more than 210 passenger trains carrying shipments in baggage cars daily and eight express freight trains operating at speeds of up to 160 kilometers per hour between major cities.