Shenzhen Railway Station began online booking service Monday.

Passengers can book tickets four to 10 days ahead by logging onto the Web site: www.gsrail.com.

They can also check schedules and ticket prices on the website.

The service was available only for long-distance trains departing Shenzhen, the railway station said.

Passengers can book tickets from 7 am to 10 pm and collect them at a designated window on the first floor of the Shenzhen Railway Station before 10 pm the same day. They can also pick up their tickets from offices appointed by the station in all districts, but this will cost an extra five yuan (US$0.6).

The system will cancel bookings if the tickets are not collected on time.

Discounted tickets for students and soldiers can be obtained only at a designated window at the station.

The station opened a hotline booking service on 0755-9510-5160 September 20 this year. Passengers making reservations on the hotline can also collect their tickets from the ticket offices from Monday.

The offices, located in all districts, will make it more convenient for passengers who will no longer have to go to the railway station in Luohu District to collect their tickets.

Passengers can dial 0755-8232-8620 for complaints if the offices charge more money than the five yuan service fee set by the railway station.
 
(Shenzhen Daily October 19, 2004)