China’s rail operator is expanding its “quiet carriage” service across most D- and G-series high-speed trains starting February 1, taking the option from limited pilots to a nationwide feature available on more than 8,000 trains. Sleeper high-speed services are excluded from the rollout.
Passengers booking through the 12306 ticketing system will see eligible trains marked with a “quiet” indicator and must accept a “quiet agreement” during purchase. If seats are available, the system prioritizes assigning a seat inside the designated quiet carriage.
The quiet carriages are designed to reduce friction that often comes from phone audio, loud calls, and noisy group conversations. Reported measures include muted onboard video by default, lower-volume announcements, and quieter service interactions when staff pass through the carriage. Some reporting also notes that standing tickets are not sold for quiet carriages to keep aisles from getting crowded and noisy.
Rules are framed around voluntary compliance and gentle reminders rather than strict penalties. Passengers agree to keep devices on silent or vibrate, use headphones for audio, and step outside the carriage to take calls or hold conversations. Parents are expected to supervise children to prevent sustained noise.
The scale-up is timed as rail travel demand rises into early February, when millions move around the country for holidays and family visits.