Travelers can book train tickets for the National Day holiday up to 28 days in advance through an online pilot project, the Ministry of Railways has said.

Previously, passengers were only able to book tickets 12 days ahead of their journey.

Under the project, from Sept 10 passengers will be able to book tickets on 42 railway lines for travel in late September and early October?- the peak travel season due to the National Day holiday that lasts from Oct 1 to 7.

The pilot project covers only 42 railway lines that run from Shanghai to Zhengzhou, Wuhan, Nanchang and Chengdu, according to regulations issued by the Railways Ministry.

The practice is aimed at alleviating pressure on the online railway ticket booking system and it could be introduced ahead of Spring Festival when the number of passengers is usually high, an official from Nanchang railway station told the Jiangxi Daily.