A total of 2.17 billion passengers will travel during the Spring Festival season in 2007, up 4.9 percent from last year's holiday season.

The National Development and Reform Commission on Tuesday said a record 155 million passengers will travel by train, up 4.3 percent, during the 40-day travel peak that will begin on February 3 and end on March 14.

Meanwhile, 1.97 billion will travel by road, up five percent, 28.41 million will travel by water, up two percent, and 19.3 million will travel by air, up 9.4 percent.

Priority should be given to safe transportation, said the NDRC, calling for better maintenance of important bridges, tunnels and highways and vehicles.

It also required transport departments to add more trains and aircraft to ensure the orderly flows of migrant workers.
The lunar new year will fall on February 18 next year.

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