The Ministry of Railways (MOR) on Wednesday announced that prices of train tickets will increased before the Spring Festival, China's traditional lunar new year, which will fall on Feb. 9 this year.

　　The price hike is attempted to control passengers during the peak travel period due to a shortage of space.

　　Price of hard seat tickets will rise by 15 percent and price of sleeper tickets will rise by 20 percent from Feb. 1 to 7, according to the Ministry of Railways.

　　Chinese travelers will make an unprecedented 14.5 billion journeys by train during the 40-day peak travel season, which will start on Jan. 25, 4.97 million or 3.5 percent more than the same period last year.

　　A MOR source said the ministry held a public hearing on ticket price hike in 2002 and the price fluctuation was approved. In the past three years, the Ministry rose train ticket prices during peak season by 15-20 percent.

　　China's travel season peaks as millions of migrant workers and college students travel home for their family unions.