9 . Fifteen months after operation began, the China-Laos Railway (Laos section) is set to introduce the LCR Ticket App on Wednesday, which allows passengers to make ticket purchases via their mobile phones, bringing Laos into the era of online train ticket sales.
The system, developed by a branch of China State Railway Group, marks a further step in the informatization process of the China-Laos Railway passenger business, according to a press release sent to the Global Times by the China State Railway Group on Tuesday. Since the start of operation on December 3,2021,the China-Laos Railway (Laos section) has seen strong demand, with the daily passenger traffic exceeding 10,000 on most busy days. However, the train tickets are sold manually at windows and sales outlets.
The app, which has the advanced technology of China’s 12306 online ticketing system, is based on the laws and regulations of Laos, its cultural characteristics and user preferences. It also supports Lao, Chinese and English. Due to the size of its population and its advanced and extensive railway system, China is home to the world’s most complex online ticket selling system. During the Spring Festival period this year, the system was able to handle a peak transaction volume of over 1,000 tickets per second. Tickets can be paid for via several methods including VISA, UnionPay, WeChat Payment and Alipay. A manager at Laos-China Railway Company, which operates the Laos section, said that online ticket sales will greatly improve the travel experience on the railway which helps promote tourism. The LCR Ticket App is set to be available for downloading from 6:30 am on Wednesday in Laos. Growing passenger and cargo volume has meant that the China-Laos Railway has become a promising route for international logistics.
Lao Ambassador to China Khamphao Ernthavanh said in a recent interview that the China-Laos Railway is an important project featuring win-win cooperation between the two countries, opening up new prospects for the socio-economic development of Laos and turning the dreams of people along the route into reality. The railway has turned land-locked Laos into a land-linked hub with freight train service bringing goods to countries including Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Bangladesh and Singapore.
1. What changes has the LCR Ticket App brought to China-Laos train ticket sales?
| A．It makes Laos enter the age of online ticketing. |
| B．It is opened along with the railway operation. |
| C．It leads to the abandonment of manual ticketing. |
| D．It is more advanced than the technology in China. |
2. What can we learn from China-Laos railway online ticketing system?
| A．It copies China’s advanced technology totally. |
| B．It takes requirements of Laos into consideration. |
| C．It is based on the preferences of Chinese passengers. |
| D．It is jointly developed by Laos, China and the United Kingdom. |
3. What does Lao manager say about the online ticket sales?
| A．The app download is not user-friendly. |
| B．The payment methods are diverse. |
| C．The travel experience for tourists will promote tourism. |
| D．The online ticket sales reach 1,000 tickets per second every day. |
4. What is the last paragraph mainly about?
| A．The benefits of the China-Laos railway. |
| B．The cooperation between China and Laos. |
| C．The goods transported by China-Laos railway. |
| D．The realization of the dreams along China-Laos railway. |
