Passengers to face refund fee after ticket rescheduling  

火車票退改簽新政實施 改簽后再退票收20%退票費

(ECNS) -- Train passengers will face a charge of up to 20 percent the total ticket price if they apply for a refund after changing their travel plans. 

No fee will be charged if travellers apply for a refund up to 15 days before the train departs the station, China's railway authorities said. 

The refund fee is in place to deter scalpers and ticket hoarding ahead of the Spring Festival travel rush.

From December 1, 2014 passengers can book train tickets through the Internet and by telephone 60 days ahead of departure, in a new policy to help handle the traffic peak.

Many passengers have complained about difficulties in booking tickets via 12306.cn, the official website of China Railway Corporation, with many blaming the problem on scalpers.