Shanghai Daily news

Hundreds of thousands of travelers will have to miss their traditional Lunar New Year celebrations at home as it becomes increasingly difficult to leave the city because of the snow.

"They say trains are being delayed all around the country and we can only wait,'' said a man who appeared to be the leader of a group of migrant workers at the Shanghai South Railway Station yesterday.

The other workers were hesitating, wondering whether to ask for refunds on their tickets or continue waiting.

Only tickets for the bullet train, heading for Beijing and some cities near Shanghai, were being sold yesterday.

The Shanghai Railway Administration announced on Monday that it was temporarily stopping the sale of tickets on most rail services except for the bullet trains because of the continuous heavy snow which has led to serious problems and delays.

"We recommend that passengers whose trains have been canceled or seriously delayed get a refund and stay over in town for the holiday,'' said an official with Shanghai Railway Administration yesterday.

Massive delays continued at local railway stations yesterday. The Shanghai Railway Administration said by 3pm yesterday afternoon, 14 train services running across Shanghai and to nearby provinces had been canceled while most others were operating but seriously behind schedule.

Over 100,000 travelers were waiting around the southern square of Shanghai Railway Station at noon yesterday and the authority said more than 30 percent of them were stranded after their trains had been canceled or delayed.

On Monday night authorities opened Zhabei Stadium and two schools near the Shanghai Railway Station to offer shelter for delayed passengers as the rapidly growing crowds of passengers became too much for the stations.

Air traffic was improving yesterday but many flights were delayed at Pudong International Airport.

The urban transport authority said long distance buses were gradually resuming normal operations yesterday.

It will implement an emergency transport plan today to help transport people before the snow is due to hit the city again this weekend.