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Posts: 5732

Emperor

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Q: Anybody have a clue what kind of quota system the trains use for issuing train tickets?

so here is the background info

 

i take an east-west train from jinan to qingdao on a regular basis,

 

3 stops between, zibo, weifang, gaomi, so jinan, zibo, weifang,gaomi,qingdao

 

the 2pm train never has a ticket available from gaomi to jinan on a friday afternoon even if i order 5 weeks ahead sometimes,

 

but if i buy a ticket from qingdao to jinan the 2 pm train tickets are right there no problem, so i pay an extra 30 rmb and i know i will get that train and i get on the train at the 2nd stop but i paid for an empty seat to get on at the 2nd stop. so on friday i hand the gaom ticket checker a train ticket to jinan that says qingdao to jinan and he smiles and lets me get on in gaomi but i overpaid to get that train or wait another 2 hours.

 

the train ticket counter says each cities has a certain number allotment of tickets and after that, no tickets,

 

i have friends who work at the train station and they dont understand the system,

this is a specific example but i have had this occur in other provinces as well

anybody else have this trouble, the next time your in a small town and cant get a ticket, offer to buy a ticket from a larger city the train will pass before you get on the train  to your destination and now a ticket is available, like magic.

8 years 38 weeks ago in  Transport & Travel - China

 
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Posts: 1876

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Major destinations are easier to predict (via ticket sales purchased the max. of 10-days in advance). Short trips, especially between smaller cities are harder to predict, therefore advance ticket sales are limited (airlines have been doing the same thing for years).

Buying a ticket same-day would be easier as they would have 'real time' data on seats available between destinations (providing the system is not overloaded).

 

Example: I had a ticket from GZ to SZ on the high-speed train. As I finished my business in GZ several hours early, I wanted to get on an earlier train back to SZ. At the GZ station, the main board showed all trains fully booked yet an Internet search showed hundreds of seats available. Managed to buy a ticket for a train that was leaving 20 minutes later at the ticket counter.

 

Lesson learned, buy your ticket 10 days in advance or the same day at the ticket office when traveling to avoid the computerized prediction game.

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8 years 38 weeks ago
 
Posts: 2231

Shifu

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Thks,  I'll keep this great idea in mind.

 

"offer to buy a ticket from a ​larger city the train will pass before you get on the train  to your destination and now a ticket is available, "

 

This  could be it, a larger (population) city gets more quota, which is reasonable. Room for improvement though, program the computer to immediately release all reserved seats AFTER the train has departed, making them available to passengers down the line.  You can give this a test, ask them if they have tickets AFTER the train has left qingdao. Give them this suggestion if they don't. You never know.

 

"he smiles and lets me get on in gaomi"  The guy was thinking, "here is one smart westerner". Smile

Sinobear:

Or, just buy a standing ticket and sit down in any empty seat.

8 years 38 weeks ago
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ambivalentmace:

the standing ticket would be my choice, but i am usually travelling with the wife and 14 month old daughter, so that changes all the options to which one will keep my wife peacefully quiet (not nagging) and of course keep the daughter curious and quiet or sleeping.

8 years 38 weeks ago
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8 years 38 weeks ago
 
Posts: 62

Governor

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Certain carriages are designated for passengers from certain cities, so if travelling to a less frequently stopped at smaller city there may be fewer tickets available.

 

There have been changes recently. Currently trains can be booked 60 days in advance online or 58 if paying cash at an agent or station. This means if you have an idea when you want to go you can book much more in advance, also refunds are very fair and you can get 90% of your money back if you cancel before 48 hours. So if you feel you might like to go places book up a few tickets if you need to. One thing to be careful though is one ID one ticket, can be a tricky if you are renewing a visa or passport,  but makes sense as keeps touts and agents from bulk buying tickets.

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8 years 32 weeks ago
 
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