The electronic-ticket booking system will be introduced to all of China's high-speed rail routes by the end of 2012, according to an official with the Chinese Ministry of Railways (MOR), the Beijing News reported.

Addressing the 7th World Congress on High Speed Rail in Beijing, Zhan Zining, vice director of the technical department of MOC's transportation bureau, said that the new system will provide information about enquiring, booking, purchasing tickets, and tour guides to the passengers.

The national electronic system will digitalize the customer service process with diversified sale and payment methods. Moreover, the management of revenue, statistics, and settlement will be included in the system.

"Online booking technology for railway tickets has been developed, and soon it will be just like booking an electronic airplane ticket at home," said Wang Fuzhang, an expert with the China Academy of Railway Sciences.

The trial system was successfully operated with Shanghai-Nanjing railway in July. The service will support 5 billion customers annually, according to the report.

(CRIENGLISH.com December 9, 2010)