#alternate alternate Mail Online Search publisher Mail Online News RSS feed Latest News Stories RSS feed MailOnline - news, sport, celebrity, science and health stories [USEMAP:gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw== ] * Home * News * U.S. * Sport * TV&Showbiz * Australia * Femail * Health * Science * Money * Video * Travel * DailyMailTV * Discounts + TUI + Boohoo + Groupon + Argos + Very + First Choice + Travelodge + Debenhams + Nike + John Lewis + Currys + River Island + My Profile + Logout + Login * Latest Headlines * UK Election 2019 * Royal Family * Prince Andrew * News * World News * Arts * Headlines * France * Most read * Wires * My Profile * Logout * Login [DailyMail.png] Tuesday, Jan 7th 2020 1PM 9°C 4PM 9°C 5-Day Forecast THIS is how to travel on the busiest day of the year: Incredible images show China's fleet of 220mph bullet trains ready to transport 390million people home for the Lunar New Year By Khaleda Rahman For Mailonline Published: 11:36 GMT, 2 February 2018 | Updated: 12:00 GMT, 2 February 2018 © REUTERS * China kicked off Spring Festival travel rush known as 'chunyun' on February 1 * During this time, people travel home to celebrate the Lunar New Year * Around 2.98bn trips are expected to be made by train, bus and air over 40 days * To cope with the demand, an extra 177 high-speed train services will be available © Getty Images These are the sleek and speedy bullet trains that will be transporting almost 400million Chinese people home during the largest annual human migration in the world. China kicked off the travel rush known as 'chunyun' during the 40-day Spring Festival period on February 1. During this time, Chinese people travel home to celebrate the Lunar New Year – which falls on February 16 and 17 this year - with their families. Around 2.98billion trips are expected to be made by train, bus and air between February 1 and March 12, according to China Central Television Station. Buses are the most common form of transport – with eight in 10 taking a coach home this year – but the numbers are expected to fall for the first time as China’s high-speed rail network expands, authorities said. More people have switched to using China Railway High-speed (CRH) trains – which reach speeds of 220mph – and planes to get home, the Ministry of Transport said. The Chinese rail authority is expecting 390 million passengers this year during the travel period, an 8.8 per cent increase on last year To cope with the extra demand, an extra 177 high-speed train services will be available during the travel period to carry an additional 100,000 passengers each day. © REUTERS China Railway High-speed bullet trains are seen at a maintenance base in Wuhan, Hubei province, at the beginning of the Spring Festival travel rush. China's high-speed rail network is the largest in the world, and seen by Beijing as a symbol of the country's advance © Getty Images Chinese authorities say about 2.98 billion trips will be made during the 40-day Spring Festival travel rush when Chinese people go home to reunite with their families for the Lunar New Year, which this year falls on February 16 and 17. Authorities are expecting 390 million passengers this year © VCG via Getty Images In September 2017, China increased the maximum speed of bullet trains on the Beijing-Shanghai line to 350km (217 miles) per hour, six years after a fatal accident led to a speed cap. The speed limit was reduced to 300 kilometres per hour after 40 people died in a high-speed train crash near Wenzhou in July 2011 © VCG via Getty Images Buses are the most common form of transport, but the numbers are expected to fall for the first time as China’s high-speed rail network continues its expansion. The increase in the speed limit cuts the 1,318-kilometre (819-mile) Beijing-Shanghai journey to 4 hours and 28 minutes, saving passengers nearly an hour © VCG via Getty Images China's Ministry of Transport said more people have switched to using the CRH bullet trains – which reach speeds of 220mph – and planes to get home. Last year, China's rail tracks reached 127,000km in length, 25,000km of which is for high-speed railway © VCG via Getty Images To cope with the extra demand, an extra 177 high-speed train services will be available during the travel period to carry an additional 100,000 passengers each day. China's ambitious plans to create even faster bullet trains - new domestic and cross-border trains, boasting top speeds of 250mph and 373mph respectively - are on schedule for a 2020 deadline © VCG via Getty Images The freezing conditions in many parts of the country has posed a further challenge for transport authorities with railway workers removing snow and ice from roads and tracks to ensure passenger safety during travel © VCG via Getty Images China's high-speed rail expansion - which has cost hundreds of billions of dollars - has seen a series of scandals and widespread allegations of corruption, with accusations that safety has been compromised for speed © VCG via Getty Images China's railway network reached 127,000km in length at the end of 2017, including 25,000km of which is high-speed railway © VCG via Getty Images Last year, more than 3,000km of new railway tracks were put into production, which authorities said would further reduce pressure on other forms of public transport © VCG via Getty Images A decline in the number of bus trips taken is expected in China due to the rapid development of high-speed rail and airline services © VCG via Getty Images Policemen patrol around CRH bullet trains to ensure the Spring Festival travel rush goes smoothly. China is home to the world’s longest high-speed rail network which competes heavily with domestic airlines. Of China’s 31 provinces and regions, 29 are served by high-speed rail with only the regions of Tibet and Ningxia in the northwest yet to be connected © VCG via Getty Images The staggering travel season comes into being as millions of people who live, work or study away from their hometown try to reunite with their family for China's most important traditional holiday © VCG via Getty Images The Chinese rail authority is expecting 390 million passengers this year during the 40-day period, an 8.8 per cent increase on last year © REUTERS Passengers wait to board trains at Shanghai's Hongqiao Railway Station as the annual Spring Festival travel rush begins ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year on February 1 Most watched News videos * Moment plane's landing gear sparks with flames and detaches itself * Mother of British teen in gang rape case says she is 'suffering' * Hezbollah leader says retaliation should not target American civilians * Man in Gateshead chews parking ticket before hurling it at warden * Buddhist monk distracted by cat during five-hour prayers * Britain's worst serial rapist prowls streets for victims on CCTV * Thousands take part in funeral procession for General Soleimani * Piers Morgan rants about vegans and bees on Good Morning Britain * Ricky Gervais makes controversial joke about Jeffrey Epstein * Soleimani's replacement vows revenge for US killing * Traffic police signal in sync with Pump It Up playing on the radio * Massive crowds gather as the body of Soleimani arrives for funeral * Back to top * Home * News * U.S. * Sport * TV&Showbiz * Australia * Femail * Health * Science * Money * Video * Travel * DailyMailTV * Discounts Sitemap Archive Video Archive Topics Index Mobile Apps Screensaver RSS Text-based site Reader Prints Our Papers Top of page Daily Mail Mail on Sunday This is Money Metro Newzit Mail Travel Zoopla.co.uk Prime Location Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group dmg media Contact us How to complain Leadership Team Advertise with us Contributors Terms Do not sell my info Privacy policy & cookies Cookie regulation logo * * * * e-mail * 737 shares