It is currently the peak season for summer travel, and many parents are choosing to travel with their children.

Here are some professional answers to parents' questions about railway children's discounted tickets, whether children can travel by train alone, and whether there are childcare services on trains!

What are the railway regulations regarding ticket purchases and train travel for children under the age of 14?

A: Current railway regulations stipulate that children traveling with adults must purchase a child discount ticket if they are 6 years of age or older and under 14 years of age; otherwise, they must purchase a full-price ticket. Each ticketed adult passenger may bring one child under 6 years of age who does not occupy a separate seat for free; for more than one child, a child discount ticket must be purchased for each additional child. Children traveling free of charge must also purchase a child discount ticket if they occupy a separate seat.

The travel date, train number, and seat class of a child's discounted ticket must be the same as the ticket held by the accompanying adult, and the destination must not be further than the destination on the adult's ticket.

Can children under the age of 14 travel alone?

A: The China State Railway Group's passenger regulations clearly stipulate that, except for students commuting to school by train and children who have been specially agreed to and confirmed by the railway transportation company to be under guardianship during the journey, minors under the age of 14 should, in principle, travel with adult passengers.

Children under 6 years old need to enter the station with an adult; children under 14 years old with child discount tickets can enter the station by themselves, but should be accompanied by an adult passenger. If a passenger declares that the child is traveling alone, the railway department has the right to refuse the child from traveling alone.

Some passengers have cancelled their tickets after purchasing discounted children's tickets. How does the railway department view this phenomenon?

A: In reality, there are instances where some passengers purchase their own tickets and children's discounted tickets first, and then cancel their own tickets before boarding. The current railway ticketing rules do not prohibit this practice, but this is not a loophole in the system; rather, it is designed to facilitate the personalized travel needs of passengers.

The railway department has fully considered the complex scenarios and diverse needs of passengers' travel. For example, children may travel with other adult relatives or friends besides the parents who bought the tickets for them. For instance, the child's parents may buy the tickets for them but not travel with the child. Instead, other adult relatives or friends who bought tickets for the same train may travel with the child.

In real life, there are many similar travel scenarios and needs. The railway department does not require adult passengers to cancel their children's discounted tickets at the same time when canceling their own tickets, mainly to facilitate passenger travel.

The railway authorities remind passengers that parents are the legal guardians of minors, and child passengers must travel with adult passengers to prevent various unexpected situations during the journey and ensure the safety of child passengers.

Does the railway department currently offer childcare services on trains?

A: Currently, the railway department provides services such as convenient entry and exit from stations, priority security checks and ticket checks, assistance with boarding and alighting, and follow-up care on trains for key passengers such as the elderly, children, the sick, the disabled, and pregnant women. There is no service for unaccompanied children with dedicated personnel throughout the journey, nor are there any services such as "automatic childcare" or "full-time care by train attendants".

Why can't the railway department provide childcare services on trains like civil aviation does?

A: Railways are a popular mode of transportation. Unlike airlines, which operate with enclosed cabins, point-to-point transport, and single-journey routes, railway transport is characterized by numerous stops, short intervals, and high passenger flow. During train operation, crew members need to provide services to all passengers and handle various emergencies. Therefore, they lack the resources for one-on-one, full-time supervision of children traveling alone. Consequently, the railway department currently does not offer personalized services such as dedicated care, custody, or full-time monitoring for minors. (Source: China Railway)