do train tickets for sold out trains ever open up later?
Hi,
I need to take a train from Beijing to Xi'an on April 29 (so two days from now). All the high speed ones are sold out though a waiting list is offered on trip.com. Should i wait to see if something opens up or just buy a regular train. It's 7 hours vs 4 hours. Is it normal for trains to sell out like that or is it because of the holiday coming up?
Thanks for any help!
Hi! Train tickets in China, especially on popular routes like Beijing to Xi'an, can sell out quickly, particularly around holidays or long weekends. April 29 falls close to the Labour Day holiday (May 1), so it’s very common for high-speed trains to be fully booked in advance.
Regarding sold-out trains and waiting lists:
- Yes, sometimes tickets for sold-out trains do open up later. This can happen due to cancellations, rescheduling, or the release of additional quota (such as for foreigners or travel agencies).
- The waiting list system on platforms like Trip.com allows you to automatically try to secure a ticket if someone cancels or more tickets are released. This is worth doing if your schedule is flexible.
- However, there’s no guarantee that a ticket will become available, especially so close to the travel date and during a peak period.
If you are concerned about missing your travel day, alternatives include:
- Booking a regular (non-high-speed) train, which takes about 7 hours. These trains are usually less in demand and tickets may still be available.
- Checking multiple departure times, as sometimes early morning or late evening trains have availability.
- Considering overnight sleeper trains if you want to save daytime for sightseeing and travel overnight.
Summary advice: For April 29, given the holiday proximity, it’s safer to secure any available ticket now rather than relying solely on the waiting list. You can keep the high-speed waiting list active as a backup, but do not delay booking an alternative train if you need guaranteed travel.
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