Chongqing - Whether trying to catch up on sleep or finish work on the go, many travelers share the same frustration: noise. Loud conversations and phones playing videos out loud make peaceful train rides increasingly hard to find, testing passengers’ patience and often triggering disputes.
Starting February 1, China will expand its “quiet carriage” service nationwide on D- and G-series high-speed trains, excluding sleeper services. More than 8,000 trains will offer quieter travel, giving passengers greater access to peaceful journeys across the country.
The “quiet carriage” is a special service introduced by China Railway Group for travelers who prefer a quieter environment, and passengers can choose this option when booking tickets via the official 12306 railway app, website, or ticket machines.
The 12306 platform serves as the national online train ticketing system, and it automatically assigns available seats in clearly marked quiet carriages.
In these carriages, the video system is set to mute by default, and the volume of automatic announcements is strictly limited to 40% of the maximum, minimizing distractions and ensuring a quieter atmosphere.
A passenger puts the luggage in place on the bullet train G4798 on the Jining-Datong-Yuanping high-speed railway, December 31, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Zhipeng)
Meanwhile, standing tickets will not be sold for the quiet carriages, ensuring that every passenger has a designated seat. Passengers are also encouraged to help maintain the silence by keeping electronic devices in silent or vibration mode, taking phone calls or conversations outside the carriage, and using headphones when listening to music or watching videos.
When food carts enter the quiet carriage, staff will halt product introductions, and all service interactions will be conducted with minimal verbal communication to avoid unnecessary disruption.
The expansion of the "quiet carriage" service reflects the Chinese railway department's response to passengers' increasing preference for a calm travel space. With this major increase in the number of trains offering the service, the move aims to improve the overall travel experience for passengers and address the public's demand for quieter, more comfortable journeys. The service is expected to contribute to a more pleasant travel environment as China's high-speed rail network continues to grow.