BEIJING — China's railway passenger trips during the Spring Festival travel rush this year declined 48.3 percent year-on-year amid the novel coronavirus outbreak, official data showed on Feb 19.

A total of 210 million railway passenger trips were made across the country from Jan 10 to Feb 18, during the Spring Festival travel rush, also known as "chunyun", according to China State Railway (CSR) Group Co Ltd.

From Jan 25 to Feb 18, China's railways saw an 83.9 percent slump year-on-year in passenger trips, said the CSR.

CSR has taken various measures to ensure safe travels for people returning to work after the Spring Festival holiday amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Railways have stepped up prevention and control of infections during the trips, including screening at both entrances and exits of all operating railway stations across the country.

Customized trains for returning workers from places where the epidemic situation is relatively stable were added to meet the labor force demand of enterprises and meanwhile reduce the risks of epidemic spread.