Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Lu Fengbao) news: According to China Railway Urumqi Bureau Group Co., Ltd., the Xinjiang railway carried a record high of 12.023 million passenger trips in the first quarter, marking a 5.8 percent year-on-year increase.

Since the beginning of this year, cross-regional passenger mobility in Xinjiang has accelerated, driven by robust demand for transportation. This has provided railways with a larger passenger base. The Spring Festival travel rush represents the peak period for Xinjiang's railway passenger transport. Over these 40 days, the convergence of family visits, tourism, student travel, and migrant worker flows has significantly increased the number of passengers opting for rail travel. During this period, the Xinjiang railway carried a total of 5.9191 million passenger trips, marking an eight percent year-on-year growth and accounting for nearly half of the railway's quarterly passenger volume.

Photo taken on March 27, 2025 shows passengers board trains at Urumqi Railway Station, Urumqi City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily/ Lu Fengbao)

The Xinjiang Railway authorities have adopted multiple measures, including operating coupled EMU trains, adding temporary services, and increasing weekend/peak-hour routes, with a focus on launching 1,008 temporary passenger trains to Beijing, Chengdu, Lanzhou, and popular destinations within Xinjiang, ensuring efficient transport during the Spring Festival travel rush.

From January to February 2025, Xinjiang's economy showed a stable start, with steady industrial production, rapid investment growth, and a noticeable rebound in consumer demand, accelerating cross-regional mobility. By March, the concentrated resumption of major projects further boosted passenger flows both into and within Xinjiang. To meet travel demand, the railway authority expanded services, introduced high-quality express trains, and reduced journey times.

As the weather warms up, it's the perfect time for flower viewing. The railway department in Xinjiang has scientifically arranged transport capacity to meet the travel demands of passengers during spring. Starting from March 31, multiple temporary "flower-viewing" passenger trains have been added between Urumqi and Turpan, as well as Turpan and Hami, providing convenience for travelers to enjoy the spring blossoms.

Tourist trains have also contributed to the increase in railway passenger volume during the first quarter. In addition to organizing ice-and-snow themed tourist trains, the Xinjiang railway authorities launched its first senior-friendly tourist train on March 27, followed by this year's first cross-province tourist train on March 29. These efforts actively promote the integrated development of railways and tourism, offering passengers more travel options.

(A written permission shall be obtained for reprinting, excerpting, copying and mirroring of the contents published on this website. Unauthorized aforementioned act shall be deemed an infringement, of which the actor shall be held accountable under the law.)