As the Chinese New Year approaches, securing train tickets home has become a top priority for many travelers. High-speed rail tickets connecting Hong Kong to major cities in the Chinese Mainland are particularly in high demand. This morning (Feb. 2), the DotDotNews reporter visited the ticketing hall of Hong Kong West Kowloon Station at around 7 a.m. and found long queues of people waiting to purchase tickets. Some even arrived as early as 5 a.m. to secure their spot.
Under the railway ticketing policy, tickets can be purchased 15 days in advance. Today, tickets for New Year's Eve (Feb. 16) went on sale at 8 a.m., with allocations available both online and at self-service ticket machines. However, the intense competition for online tickets has driven many passengers to opt for in-person purchases instead.
By 7:12 a.m., queues had formed in front of two self-service ticketing areas, with about a dozen people waiting in each line. Some individuals came prepared for the "ticket battle," bringing portable folding chairs to endure the wait.
Mr. Kam, who was first in line, shared his determination to secure tickets for his family of three to travel to Zhaoqing on New Year's Eve. He arrived at the station at 5:20 a.m. and explained that, based on advice from friends, being beyond the seventh position in the queue might result in missing out on tickets.
Kam noted that the ticket rush for Spring Festival travel in HK feels more intense this year compared to last year. He attributed this to the growing popularity of high-speed rail, which is both faster and more comfortable. For example, the journey from HK to Zhaoqing takes around two hours by high-speed rail, compared to 3.5 hours by cross-boundary bus. Despite the higher cost, he believes the convenience and comfort justify the price, especially when traveling with family.
Additionally, he pointed out that the integration of the Greater Bay Area has contributed to the ticket demand. As more people from the Mainland work in HK, returning home for the Chinese New Year has become increasingly challenging. Being first in line, Kam expressed confidence in securing tickets for his family.
(Reporter: Chen Zimeng; English Editor: Zoey SUN)
Related News:
Comment