CRI听力：Train and Highway Fare Policy Announced For Spring Festival Period

China's Ministry of Railways has said train fares won't rise during the high traffic load period surrounding the Spring Festival holiday - officially this lasts forty days from late January to early March.

In addition, it has promised that previously announced discounts will not be cancelled either.

Three separate sets of plans have been established to deal with passenger flows which are divided into "normal", "peak" and "emergent' levels. Transportation hubs across the country will also arrange exclusive ticket windows for migrant workers, who account for a large part of passengers at this time of year.

It is estimated that more than 170 million people will take to the country's railways during the festival period, an increase of over 8 percent on the same period last year.

However, on the roads, coach and bus fares will be permitted to rise and fall - within the range of government guidelines - during the rush period. This decision was taken after considering the possible effects of rising oil prices on operators. The Ministry of Communications has promised to reduce the impact of such volatility by allowing coach operators to adjust fares within a set scale.

Some passengers say they understand the reasons behind this policy.

''The oil price is rising, so the cost of transportation is more than before. We can understand the change.''

Meanwhile, authorities in all regions of the country are being called upon to enhance the supply of transportation and to ensure the smooth flow of passengers.

Transport experts are predicting a five percent increase in the number of those traveling on the highways this Spring Festival, bringing the estimated figure to more than two billion.