MOR responds to outcry over ticketing system  

铁道部回应称铁路客票系统项目招标符合法定程序

近日，正值中秋、国庆假期火车票预售高峰，中国铁路客票系统日点击量达到14.9亿次，导致网络拥堵，引起社会对铁路招标公司质疑。铁道部信息化办公室相关负责人27日表示，铁路客票系统项目招标符合法定程序。

Beijing (CNS) -- The Ministry of Railways (MOR) responded to suspicions over the bidding process for its ticket booking system on Thursday, saying that it was in accordance with statutory procedures.

The project was open to all qualified companies for public bidding, and the China Railway Investment Corporation acted as proxy for the Information Technology Center of the MOR to invite public bids, an official from the ministry said.

Five firms bid for the contract to construct the website of the online ticket-purchasing system. After being graded by the bid evaluation committee, Taiji Computer Corporation and Tsinghua Tongfang Co., Ltd. successfully bid for the contract, the official added.

The website 12306.cn, which reportedly cost 330 million yuan (about US$49 million) but failed to work properly ahead of China's National Day holiday, had aroused public suspicion.