The traffic administration authorities across China have adopted a series of measures to ensure travelers' safe return to schools or workplaces at the end of the Spring Festival travel rush this year, which runs from Feb. 2 to March 13.

China State Railway Group said national railways are expected to handle 16.75 million passenger trips on Sunday, marking the ninth consecutive day in which daily passenger volumes exceeded 15 million.

In recent days, several areas in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province have witnessed a rush of migrant workers returning to their posts.

At Qiqihar Railway Station, operators have leveraged a combined rail-road transport model and coordinated in advance with local labor service departments to better track travel demand through ticket booking for migrant workers.

Dedicated security checks and station-entry lanes have also been set up, enabling migrant workers to enter the station at off-peak times and avoid the busiest passenger flows.

"We have reserved carriages and added trains specifically for migrant workers, doing everything we can to ensure they return to work safely, smoothly and comfortably. After the Spring Festival, a total of 12 batches - nearly 700 people - were organized to help them return to their posts," said Tian Yuan, manager of the labor transfer service station in Gannan County, Qiqihar.

In southern China, the China Railway Guangzhou Group has added 270 extra trains, focusing on high-demand routes.

Meanwhile, many regions are entering a peak period for students returning to school. The China Railway Xi'an Group said it has scheduled 121 additional trains on Sunday from Xi'an to major destinations, including Shanghai, Chongqing and Lanzhou, boosting overall transport capacity.

Rail authorities have also strengthened coordination with local transport agencies to enhance the capacity of taxi and bus services for connecting transportation. Stations have introduced dedicated student lanes at exits and improved transfer links between stations and universities to ensure smooth journeys for students.

"We precisely analyzed the travel characteristics of students, made early forecasts for peak flows, and striven to comprehensively ensure transportation and safety by increasing the deployment of provincial transport capacity, adding multiple-unit trains on popular inter-provincial routes, and expanding services toward high-demand directions," said Yue Lu, a staffer at Xi'an Railway Station.