CRI听力:Real-Name Ticket Sales System Starts in Beijing

A real-name ticket sales system is now running in Beijing.

As CRI's Su Yi reports, the new policy is designed to try to make buying a ticket more convenient and fair.

At the Beijing south railway station, travelers have begun to use a ticket vending machine which has an ID card reader installed in it.

This young passenger, who has bought a ticket for the Beijing to Tianjin high-speed train, says he believes the new system should help, especially during the peak travel times.

"Without the name-based ticket sale system, ticket purchase at the travel peak season is particularly difficult. I think the new rule will alleviate traffic congestion and foil scalper gangs selling tickets at unreasonably high prices."

However, he also suggests that requiring an ID card to buy tickets during the non-peak travel times isn't really necessary.

"Sometimes, we might forget bringing our ID cards. I think it's fine and enough for the travel peak season. In normal times, the new rule might cause unnecessary trouble."

In cases where passengers forget or lose their ID cards, they can go to a special window where the local police bureau will issue a temporary ID card to them so they can buy a ticket.

On top of the ID cards, student certificates, military service cards and passports are among the over 20 different kinds of identification which have been approved by the Ministry of Railways for the real-name system.

Beijing South Railway station spokesperson Yu Xuejin is also issuing a warning to travellers.

"Personal information will be on the name-based ticket. Passengers shouldn't throw away their tickets randomly after the trip. If they do, a possible leak of personal information could occur."

Travelers who buy their tickets through an agent will have to show their ID as of June 1st.

This ticket agent in east Beijing says there are concerns the name-based ticket system might breach people's privacy.

"It's hard to evaluate the new policy's advantages and disadvantages. It's definitely conducive to railway system's management; however, passengers would feel they have no privacy any more."

Under the new rules, daily commuters will only be able to buy one ticket a day.

For CRI, I'm Su Yi.