PASSENGERS who miss their trains could change to other trains with the approval of a station master on duty, according to the Guangzhou Railway Group, which manages the Shenzhen Railway Station.
A station master on duty works in the waiting hall and is not a management position, according to the Shenzhen Railway Station.
However, passengers have to see the station master on duty within two hours after the departure time on their tickets and provide a reasonable explanation for being late for the train to change their ticket, the Shenzhen Evening News reported yesterday.
Passengers could inquire at the information desk if they cannot find the person on duty.
The new regulation issued by the Ministry of Railways which took effect Dec. 1 has angered rail travelers.
There would be no refunds for people who miss trains and they would not be allowed to change trains unless they can provide evidence to prove that they were delayed by illness or an emergency, according to the regulation.
Passengers were further angered after the ministry said this new policy did not apply to ticket holders on high-speed rail services, who could still change to other trains leaving on the same day within two hours of departure time.
Many consumers argued that the rule was unfair because it discriminated between passengers who travel on regular trains and those who use high-speed trains. Others believe it is a means to force passengers to pay for high-speed rail services.
However, the ministry defended the regulation by saying it would prevent ticket scalping, because the old policy allowed scalpers to sell tickets or get part of the ticket fare refunded two hours after the trains had departed.
(Martin Li)
