CRI听力：Discounted Train Tickets Face Cold Shoulder in China

A seemingly preferential policy of discounted train tickets in China has received a cold shoulder from the public.

Chinese railway authorities recently said buyers have the privilege of obtaining sleeper tickets at discounts ranging from 20 to 50 percent until June.(www.hXen.com)

But an article in the Nanfang Daily quotes comments from passengers regarding the incentives.

Some consider the moves impractical, as the discounted tickets exclusively cover those leaving at 6 o'clock every morning for destinations within 400 kilometers.

They argue by employing the example that the travel time between Chongqing and Chengdu, two large cities in southwest China's Sichuan province, is three hours, which makes sleeper trains unnecessary.

Others suggest that discounted sleeper tickets should not be used widely, but only for long-distance journeys.

Nanfang Daily also published some comments from netizens.

Many of them share the same idea that the three-month discount policy is intended to make use of empty sleepers to increase revenues, rather than benefit passengers.

They advise the government add more service-oriented elements in future policy-making.