The Spring Festival travel period in 2004 will begin Jan. 7 and last for 40 days during which millions of Chinese families will reunite to celebrate the beginning of the new lunar year.

The railway department estimated that more than 137.5 million passengers would travel by rail during the peak season.

The department said it was facing greater challenges as the rush time for students and migrant workers to return home were all concentrated on the week before the Spring Festival, which falls Jan. 22 the next year.

The department said it would give privileged service to students buying train tickets and boarding trains during the rush season. Temporary trains will also be added to ease congestion.

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