Concern over rail ticket price hikes

According to a notice issued by the National Development and Reform Commission in January, the train ticket prices for high-speed lines in the southeastern coastal areas are to be adjusted from April 21, with some being raised and some lowered. This is the first price adjustments to high-speed train tickets since China Railway was granted the power to change the prices. In February, some media reports cited railway insiders as saying ticket prices for some high-speed rail lines in the southeastern coastal regions may be raised by nearly 70 percent, sparking a public outcry. Thus, China Railway’s announcement is a necessary and timely response to public concerns and is expected to put an end to people’s anxiety, given that the price hikes are not universal, nor as high as anticipated.

The ticket prices for high-speed trains are more market-oriented compared with those for ordinary trains, and their moderate adjustments based on operating costs and changing supply-demand relationships conform to market principles. It is natural for the public to be highly sensitive to and concerned over possible price adjustments to high-speed train tickets, and as China’s high-speed railways are also undoubtedly public goods, any fare changes should be in line with relevant legal provisions and policies.

Aside from two-way ticket price adjustments, China Railway also vowed to improve the quality of services offered on high-speed trains. It is hoped the railway corporation can work out concrete standards and specific measures to fulfill its commitment to society and bring any ticket price adjustments and service quality under public scrutiny. — BEIJING YOUTH DAILY