China's New Year rush puts trains in line for cash

A performer dressed in traditional costume dances during a show celebrating Chinese New Year at Longtan Park in Beijing, January 25, 2009.

Reuters - China's trains laboured to carry millions home on Sunday on the eve of the country's biggest annual holiday, serving as a reminder of the staggering infrastructure needs of the world's third-largest economy.
Despite investing vast amounts in the rail network, 350 billion yuan (37 billion pounds) in 2008 alone, the government has struggled to keep up with passenger flows as more Chinese move to cities for work and have the money to return home to the countryside for the Lunar New Year.
Beijing has pledged to nearly double rail spending this year to 600 billion yuan to ease the congestion.


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