Beijing (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Tens of millions of migrants are returning to the coastal provinces where they work, after the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday, for many the only annual break that allows them to return home. The Ministry for Railways said on 18 February there were already 5.44 million passengers, with long queues and crowded carriages, but for the next 23 and 24 February, the peak day, they expect no less than 9 million to travel by train each day, double the figure for 2009.
According to the official Xinhua news agency, from February 17, at least 43 thousand people depart from Chongqing station every day and over 90 thousand from Anhui; February 18, 373,400 people departed from Hubei. The four railway stations in Beijing have received 150 thousand travellers February 18 and many more in coming days. Hour long queues have formed in front of ticket offices, with the fear of not being able to get a ticket in time for the next departure, or even having to postpone departure if the tickets are already sold out. The most provident bought the return ticket as soon as they arrived home days ago.
The numbers register a veritable exodus: the national railways say they have put into operation 3945 daily passenger trains, arriving in large stations such as Beijing which has enhanced services to meet needs.
This year many moved their return forward, to avoid exhausting queues and uncomfortable travelling conditions or in the hope of finding a new job immediately. Lu Yanping, a nanny from Hebei told the Global Times she has already returned to Beijing because she hopes so "to find work more easily."
It is estimated that for the entire period, starting January 30, there will be no less than 210 million passengers travelling on trains.