On September 1, the topic “Paper train tickets will no longer be provided starting October 1” sparked attention on social media. Some internet users asked, without a “paper ticket,” how would they remember the train number and seat number? Others were concerned about how elderly people without smartphones could check their travel information.

Starting November 1, 2024, China’s railway passenger transport will begin promoting the use of fully digital electronic invoices. Passengers who need reimbursement will no longer have to go to train stations, ticket agencies, or self-service machines to print railway tickets, i.e., paper reimbursement vouchers; they can directly issue electronic invoices online. However, a transition period has been set for the implementation of fully digital electronic invoices in railway passenger transport, which will last until September 30, 2025.

Screenshot from social media

A customer service representative from China Railway 12306 stated that many passengers may have misunderstood: what is being discontinued is not the “paper ticket” but the reimbursement voucher. “China Railway has long implemented paperless electronic tickets. In recent years, only paper travel itineraries have been provided to passengers. The itinerary includes train information, including the carriage and seat number, which can be printed at manual counters or machines.” The representative added, “Losing the itinerary is not a problem, as it can be reprinted multiple times before departure.”

Another customer service representative mentioned that manual counters at stations still allow on-site ticket purchases. After purchasing tickets with real-name verification, passengers can enter the station by swiping their ID cards. Meanwhile, staff will assist in printing a paper itinerary.

Paper itinerary screenshot from social media

The above customer service representative stated that if passengers do not have smartphones and cannot check travel information on online platforms, in addition to printing a paper itinerary, the official 12306 will also send train information via SMS to the mobile phone number provided during ticket purchase.

Regarding some internet users reporting that they did not receive travel SMS after purchasing tickets, the customer service explained: “Generally, after users register a 12306 account, ticket purchase information is sent via SMS by default. Not receiving SMS may be because users later changed their information reception method to notifications via WeChat or Alipay.”

According to a September 1 message from China Railway’s official account, on August 31, the 62-day railway summer travel period successfully concluded. From July 1 to August 31, national railways累计 sent 943 million passengers, a year-on-year increase of 4.7%. During the summer travel period, 579 tourist trains were operated, a year-on-year increase of 31%.

China Railway 12306

China Railway 12306 is the official online ticketing system and mobile app for China’s national railway operator. It was launched in 2011 to modernize ticket sales and manage the immense passenger demand of the world’s largest railway network. The platform is a critical piece of digital infrastructure that handles billions of visits, especially during the Chinese New Year travel season.

WeChat

WeChat is a Chinese multi-purpose messaging, social media, and mobile payment application first released in 2011 by the technology giant Tencent. It has since evolved from a simple messaging service into an all-encompassing “super app” integral to daily life and commerce in China, offering services from social networking to financial transactions.

Alipay

Alipay is a leading Chinese third-party mobile and online payment platform, founded in 2004 by Alibaba Group. It revolutionized digital finance in China by enabling secure online transactions and later expanded into a comprehensive financial services app offering everything from bill payments to wealth management.

China Railway

China Railway, officially known as China State Railway Group Co., Ltd., is the national state-owned railway operator. Its history is deeply tied to the country’s modernization, with its earliest lines built in the late Qing Dynasty. Today, it operates the world’s largest high-speed rail network, which has been massively expanded in the 21st century to become a cornerstone of national infrastructure and economic development.