Recently, China’s high-speed rail ticket pricing mechanism has once again become a public focus. A passenger’s complaint about the ticket price of the G326 train rising by nearly 10% (about over 40 yuan or approximately $6) within a year and a half quickly made headlines and triggered strong dissatisfaction and widespread attention among the public regarding the “opaque adjustments” in high-speed rail ticket prices.
According to reports from several mainland Chinese media outlets, Mr. Xu, a passenger of the G326 train, raised concerns that the high-speed rail ticket price for the same route had increased by over 40 yuan within a year and a half, almost a 10% increase. After noticing this abnormal price hike, he attempted to check his historical orders through the 12306 platform but found that records older than 30 days were not retrievable. Finally, he confirmed the original price by providing screenshots of his reimbursement records.
Mr. Xu expressed his hope that the railway department could announce ticket price adjustments in advance to safeguard passengers’ right to know.
In response, journalists from mainland media outlets approached China Railway’s 12306 platform as consumers for inquiries. Staff members mentioned that the publicized ticket prices for some high-speed rail routes had indeed increased due to the implementation of market-based pricing mechanisms. They stressed that the ticket prices for high-speed and intercity trains are not within the range of prices regulated by the state, therefore, price adjustments do not require public hearings.
The response from 12306 not only failed to quell the controversy but instead raised more doubts and criticisms among the media and the public, pushing the topic of “high-speed rail price hikes should not be silently executed” into the limelight of public opinion.
An article on Changcheng Net stated, “Currently, high-speed rail has become the main mode of long-distance travel for many people, with ticket prices on some routes already high and even approaching those of airplane tickets. In such a scenario, sudden price hikes of several yuan are inevitably felt as a ‘pinch’ by consumers.”
The discomfort felt by passengers about the pricing is not without merit. While railway companies have the right to adjust prices, the process of adjustment should not be so silent. Many passengers who do not frequently travel on a specific route may not even notice the change. Despite 12306 staff mentioning that they gathered public opinions through surveys before the price hike, many netizens expressed, “I never received that survey” and asked, “Where was this survey quietly conducted?”
Such a pricing model is bound to make consumers feel disregarded, and it raises questions: what standards do ticket price adjustments adhere to? Are they based on cost increases, competitive pressures, or simply market testing reactions? Without a transparent explanation, passengers can only passively accept the results, leading to potential feelings of resentment.
The article further suggests that explanations for high-speed rail price hikes should be clarified to the public, detailing the factors affecting pricing, and establishing a more open, transparent, and adequate communication mechanism with consumers before price adjustments. As the “main artery” of national transportation, high-speed rail price adjustments are emotionally significant. Enterprise autonomy in pricing should not simply equate to “raising prices as desired,” but should be based on transparent communication and service upgrades. Only through this approach can the trust and support of passengers be won, achieving a win-win situation for both market efficiency and social benefits.
A blog post by “FoxDegrees” directly pointed out that the response from 12306 was clear: the price hike is reasonable, no hearing needed, and they have informed the public. However, this narrative clashes with the real experiences of many netizens, prompting questions such as “Why does market-based price adjustments only go up and not down?” and “Is it permissible to raise prices without providing reasons?” which leaves a somewhat “domineering” impression.
Recent grievances and criticisms about the high-speed rail system have frequently trended on social media—ranging from the prohibition of eating instant noodles without offering affordable and quality boxed meals, to inadequate seat cleaning and disinfection guarantees, rampant uncivilized behaviors without proper management, and more. While ticket prices are on the rise, the quality of service seems to be “stuck in place,” leaving passengers with a widespread feeling of “not getting their money’s worth.”