Help Wanted-Train Booking Verification
Jan 15, 2013 | 12:12 pm
#1
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Southeast USA
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Help Wanted-Train Booking Verification
All you experienced FT'ers in China now, I'm not and won't be back for awhile. Yet I need to update the Train part of the Master Transportation Thread. If anybody can verify or refute the following by checking with reliable sources preferably the railway system itself, I'd be grateful:
--Normal advance booking for online ticketing via the official website is now 20 days in advance instead of the previous 12 days.
--This applies to all trains both standard and HSR, and is now the standard policy.
--Normal advance booking for in-person sales at ticket windows (stations, satellite office) is now 18 days in advance instead of the previous 10 days. Also applies to both standard and HSR trains.
--There may still be times (i.e. Chinese New Year) when the online and in-person sales periods will be cut back to a shorter time frame.
Thx in advance. This change is significant enough that I don't want to wait to get updated info into the Master thread.
--Normal advance booking for online ticketing via the official website is now 20 days in advance instead of the previous 12 days.
--This applies to all trains both standard and HSR, and is now the standard policy.
--Normal advance booking for in-person sales at ticket windows (stations, satellite office) is now 18 days in advance instead of the previous 10 days. Also applies to both standard and HSR trains.
--There may still be times (i.e. Chinese New Year) when the online and in-person sales periods will be cut back to a shorter time frame.
Thx in advance. This change is significant enough that I don't want to wait to get updated info into the Master thread.
Jan 15, 2013 | 12:33 pm
#2
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: SIN / CNX / SFO
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Official source is here to confirm your first three points: http://www.12306.cn/mormhweb/zxdt/tlxw_tdbtz53.html
Quick and dirty translation:
Can't comment on the last point regarding temporary cuts.
Originally Posted by Railway Ministry
自2013年1月1日起，互联网、电话订票预订第12天车票的起售时间由原来4个节点调整为10个节点，即 8：00～18:00（14:00除外）期间每小时均有部分新票起售，所有动车组列车（C、D、G字头车次 ）车票统一于11：00起售。具体起售时间详见各车站公告。自2013年1月4日起，互联网、电话订票预售 期延长至20天（含当日），预订第20天车票的起售时间仍为10个节点，代售点和车站部分售票窗口预售期延 长至18天（含当日）。
Since 1 January 2013, internet and telephone presales opening times have changed from 12 days in advance at four times to ten times, every hour between 8:00 and 18:00 (excluding 14:00). Sales for all EMU trains (C, D, and G) are consolidated to 11:00. Specific sales opening times are listed by station below.
Since 4 January 2013, the internet and telephone presales period has been extended to 20 days in advance (including the day of the train) ten times a day. Presales at ticket windows have been extended to 18 days in advance (including the day of the train).
Since 4 January 2013, the internet and telephone presales period has been extended to 20 days in advance (including the day of the train) ten times a day. Presales at ticket windows have been extended to 18 days in advance (including the day of the train).
Jan 16, 2013 | 12:40 am
#3
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Southeast USA
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Well, OK, thanks. I'm going to take the Ministry at their word and change the Master thread. But if anybody has a real-time experience that seems to contradict this....especially for in-person sales which would affect more FT'ers...let me know. Chinese New Year period, I do expect anomalies in the new "normal" since the MOR always manipulates sales periods at this time.