The student ticket reservation service on the Railway 12306 mobile app will be launched on December 12.
According to reporters from The Paper, starting from December 12, the China National Railway Group Co., Ltd. (referred to as “China Railway Group”) will launch a special service area for student ticket reservations on the railway 12306 mobile app. Additionally, the rules for the sale and verification of student discount tickets will be optimized and adjusted. Eligible travelers can reserve round-trip tickets for the Spring Festival travel season through this special area, making travel more convenient for student passengers.
A relevant official from the passenger transport department of China Railway Group stated that the railway department adheres to a people-centered development philosophy and implements measures that benefit the public. Based on the experience gained from the 2024 Spring Festival student ticket reservation work, the department has scientifically analyzed travel patterns and optimized the functions of the railway 12306 system. The student reservation ticket service will continue to be offered during the 2025 Spring Festival travel season. From December 12, 2024, to February 12, 2025, eligible student travelers (those whose family residence is not in the same city as their school, who have passed the student discount qualification verification, and have remaining discount opportunities) can reserve tickets for travel between December 28, 2024, and February 28, 2025, in the “Student Reservation Ticket Special Service” area of the railway 12306 mobile app. Each account can submit up to three orders simultaneously, with each order allowing the addition of five combinations of “train number + seat type” for one travel date. The available seat types include hard seat, hard sleeper, and second-class seat applicable for student discount tickets, allowing reservations for up to nine student travelers, including the individual making the reservation. Eligible student travelers can submit ticket reservation requests at least 17 days before departure, with the latest reservation date being February 28, 2025. Requests must be submitted by 11 PM 17 days before departure, and results can be checked 16 days before departure. Successful reservations must be paid for by 11 PM on the same day; otherwise, the order will be automatically canceled.
In recent years, the number of student travelers reuniting with their families in different locations has gradually increased. To better meet the diverse travel needs of student travelers, the railway department has optimized and adjusted the rules for the sale and verification of student discount tickets during the winter vacation period of 2025 (from January 1 to March 31). Eligible student travelers can flexibly set the discount range for student tickets in the railway 12306 system based on their actual reunion locations with family and purchase corresponding student discount tickets. During the journey, staff will only verify whether the school location in the railway 12306 system matches the school location on the student ID.
The official indicated that the railway department will continue to optimize the functions of the railway 12306 system, striving to provide more convenient and efficient ticket purchasing services for travelers. Additionally, travelers are reminded that the railway 12306 website (including the mobile app) is the only official online ticket sales platform for China Railway and has never authorized any third-party platforms to sell train tickets. Purchasing tickets through third-party platforms may lead to additional fees, bundled sales services, and risks of personal privacy information leakage. Travelers are strongly advised to purchase tickets through official railway channels, ensuring they use the official 12306 website and the “Railway 12306” official app, while confirming that the payment recipient is “China Railway Network Co., Ltd.” to avoid issues with refunds or ticket changes later on.
