春运40天预计发送旅客4147万人次，国铁北京局服务升级：线上免费退票、高铁托运宠物

Core Viewpoint - The 2026 Spring Festival travel rush in China is expected to see an increase in passenger volume, with the Beijing Railway Bureau forecasting a total of 41.47 million passengers, marking a 2.5% increase from 2025 [1][3]. Group 1: Passenger Volume and Transportation Arrangements - The Spring Festival travel period will run from February 2 to March 13, lasting a total of 40 days, with 15 days before the festival and 25 days after [1]. - The Beijing area is projected to send 19.947 million passengers, an increase of 2% compared to 2025 [1]. - To meet the transportation demand, the Beijing Railway Bureau will arrange 278 pairs of temporary and direct high-speed trains, focusing on major cities such as Harbin, Shenyang, and Qingdao [3]. Group 2: Passenger Services and Experience Enhancements - A series of convenient services will be introduced to improve the travel experience, including a dedicated phone service for elderly passengers to purchase tickets [3]. - Online self-service for free ticket refunds will be trialed, allowing passengers to cancel tickets within 30 minutes of payment if done more than 4 hours before departure [3]. - The "quiet carriage" service will be expanded to cover more high-speed trains, and additional seating and charging facilities will be provided at busy stations [3][5]. Group 3: Additional Services and Amenities - The "Light Travel" service will be expanded to 14 stations, offering luggage delivery from door to station and vice versa [5]. - Pet transportation services will be available at 11 stations and on 39 trains, allowing passengers to travel with their pets [5]. - New dining options will be introduced on high-speed trains, including four festive meal sets designed to cater to diverse passenger tastes [6].