This could put an end to scalpers and make it much easier for those who want to buy a train ticket in times of intense demand, such as over the Spring Festival.

A pilot program that allows tickets and ID cards to be scanned simultaneously at gates to platforms has made it much harder for ticket scalpers to stockpile tickets and distort supplies.

More than half a million passengers have benefited in the 15 days since the scheme was launched by the Ministry of Railways in nine stations in southern Guangdong provinces.

Stations were located in cities such as Guangzhou and Shenzhen, which have a heavy reliance on labor provided by migrant workers.

Long queues are a common occurrence over festive seasons every year at entry points to Guangzhou Railway Station where transport is heaviest around important traditional festive seasons such as the Spring Festival.