Most train tickets now purchased online

More than 70 percent of railway tickets sold in Beijing are purchased from the online portal 12306.com, according to the Beijing Railway Bureau, the Beijing Times reported.

Buying railway tickets online has become so popular with travelers that tickets sold via telephone or at ticket booths now only account for 8 and 14 percent of total sales, respectively.

The bureau said they have enhanced the online services in order to prevent the system from crashing due to overwhelming web traffic. The Spring Festival travel period, which lasts from January 16 until February 24 this year, is the annual peak season for railway transport.

The bureau also said that they will guarantee that the price of bottled water and meal boxes sold on trains will not exceed 2 yuan ($0.33) and 15 yuan, respectively.