The start of China's Spring Festival travel rush began on Jan 13. The days leading up to the Chinese New Year's celebrations are considered the world's largest human migration, taking a heavy toll on the transportation systems of the Hongqiao Hub.

Hongqiao Railway Station has upgraded eight services to provide a better traveling experience for passengers.

Electric carts carrying railway security staff drive around the waiting area of Hongqiao Railway Station to help travelers in need of assistance. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Railway security staff in electric carts will drive around the waiting room to help travelers in need. First-aid service centers have also been set up. Green channels have opened to facilitate the elderly and special needs groups. The number of public toilets, especially for women, has also been increased to cut queues.

The railway has cooperated with the subway and bus departments to diversify transportation services. Special ticket windows for coach travelers have opened to relieve the pressures on trains.

Travelers purchase tickets at a self-service ticket machine at Hongqiao Railway Station. [Photo provided to China Daily]

New measures have been enacted allowing migrant workers travelling home together to purchase group tickets. The railway station has also introduced Alipay, a popular third-party mobile payment platform, to help passengers purchase tickets more easily at self-service ticket machines.

A number of volunteers, mainly university students studying in Shanghai, have dedicated themselves to providing services at the station. Information updates are available on digital screens, broadcasts and social network platforms. Station crew members will hand out New Year couplets and hot dumplings on the eve of Chinese New Year.

Travelers cram into Hongqiao Railway Station, a usual scene during the Spring Festival travel rush. [Photo provided to China Daily]

According to the local transport department, Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station is estimated to transport more than 3 million passengers before Jan 27.

To ease the traffic burden, the Shanghai Railway Bureau has added more than 500 railway trains to accommodate the travel rush, up 12 percent from the same period last year.