Record passenger numbers expected for upcoming chunyun

A staff member works at the monitoring center for online ticketing system at China Academy of Railway Science in Beijing, Dec 21, 2014. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING - China's transport networks will convey a record number of passengers during the upcoming chunyun, a peak travel period around Spring Festival.

Up to 2.8 billion trips are expected to be made via roads, railways, aviation and waterways during the 40-day chunyun that starts on Feb 4, up 3.4 percent year on year, said the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), a major government agency for economic planning.

These trips do not cover those made through public buses or taxi cabs, the NDRC said on Monday.

It forecast that railways are expected to see the greatest rise of 10 percent in passenger trips during the period compared to other transport options. Meanwhile, 47.5 million trips are predicted to be made by planes, up 8 percent year on year.

Lunar New Year will fall on Feb 19.

Multiple government agencies including ministries for public security, transport, and work safety have also asked local authorities to enhance safety checks on vehicles, stations and airports.