During this year's Spring Festival travel rush, about 440 million trips are expected to made by rail, up 8 percent year-on-year. Despite the increase in traffic, many passengers will find the journey home more comfortable, thanks to new changes in 2020.

A traveler enters Hanzhong railway station by scanning her ID card. (Photo/chinanews.com)

Custom trains have been launched, such as high-speed trains in poverty-stricken areas of Bijie, Guizhou in Southwest China.

"Now my hometown is also connected by high-speed railway. It's getting better and better every year," said Li Yong, 51, a rural migrant worker from Bijie. Previously, Li had to take a train to Guiyang, the provincial capital, and then a bus for 3-4 hours to his hometown.

"There are high-speed trains this year, with the fastest taking only 50 minutes. It's so convenient," Li added.

Meanwhile, during this year's Spring Festival travel rush, the high-speed railway will fully implement an e-ticket system, which will reduce the time it takes to collect tickets.

Passengers can handle the in-station verification independently, and check in and out, enjoying the convenience of paperless travel. Passengers who buy train tickets at the counter can also handle itinerary changes online.

There are also more people-oriented services provided for passengers in China's railway stations.

For instance, Datong South Railway Station set up an intelligent mobile maternal and nursery room to provide a cozy, private breastfeeding space.

Zhengzhou Station, Hangzhou station and Urumqi station have introduced an intelligent toilet guidance system, which displays free toilets in real-time and helps passengers quickly and accurately find vacancies.

"We can provide small delivery services for everything from temporary purchases of special products for the Spring Festival to lost ID cards," added Wang Minzhong, Party Secretary of Xiamen North Station.