All four major railway stations in Shanghai will operate around the clock starting Jan 20, with their waiting areas to remain open 24 hours a day.

The adjustment comes as Hongqiao Railway Station joins Shanghai Railway Station, Shanghai South Railway Station, and Shanghai Songjiang Railway Station in offering extended hours to make travel easier during the Spring Festival travel rush, which began on Jan 14.

On Jan 19, the sixth day of the Spring Festival travel rush, Shanghai's railway stations were expected to handle about 530,000 passenger trips, a year-on-year increase of 21.6 percent.

To meet the demands of passengers, train stations in Shanghai have begun operating an additional 39 trains to destinations that include cities in Anhui, Jiangxi, and Yunnan provinces, Chongqing, as well as other cities in the northeast and northwest China.

Throughout the Spring Festival travel season, rail authorities have announced plans to enhance maintenance of equipment and facilities, including lighting, air conditioning, and drinking water at the stations.

The service station and some shops will operating hours into the night to accommodate late-night passengers.

Source: Shanghai Railway Station