Recent online chatter has suggested that some train ticket prices appeared to surge during the National Day holiday break.
Netizens pointed to the D988 service from Chongqing North to Nanjing South, noting that while a September 25th ticket started at 446 yuan, the same journey on September 30th was priced from 520 yuan. This example quickly drew widespread attention.
In response, the railway's official 12306 platform clarified that this is not a price hike but rather a reflection of different discount levels being applied.
An investigation by reporters on the 12306 site confirmed that the fares for the specified dates were indeed different, but also noted small boxes beside the ticket prices on those days, indicating a 60 percent and a 70 percent discount, respectively. In a subsequent call to the 12306 hotline, reporters were told that the figures displayed on the page are the discounted execution prices. To view the original, non-discounted cost, travelers can click on the "published fare" option.
Following this tip, reporters clicked through and found the standard published fare for a second-class seat on the D988 to be 743 yuan.
According to the Price Law of the People's Republic of China, the Railway Law, and the Central Pricing Catalog, train operators have the autonomy to set passenger fares for bullet trains.
The applicable regulations state that the published fare acts as the price ceiling. Railway companies are permitted to offer varying execution prices below this threshold, considering factors like season, weekdays versus weekends, and holidays, along with travel time, speed class, seat type, route section, and market competition. This dynamic pricing model allows fares to fluctuate, both increasing and decreasing based on market demand, but they must never surpass the official ceiling.
Since December 2020, a flexible pricing mechanism has been phased in on lines such as the Beijing-Shanghai and Chengdu-Chongqing high-speed railways. Since then, the system has been adopted more widely, and it generally applies to newly opened high-speed rail routes as well.