Some people had difficulty using the hotline 9510-5160 to book train tickets because they were not familiar with telephone bookings, the Daily Sunshine reported.

A reader rang the newspaper Dec. 28 to complain that he could not book a ticket for the New Year holidays, but a reporter found the telephone booking system was working properly.

Another reader surnamed Jiang complained that the hotline told him all tickets to Shangqiu in Henan Province on Sunday were sold out, but he eventually booked tickets through a travel agency.

The hotline's operators said people would find it more convenient to book as long as they knew how to use the system properly.

Operators said people should listen carefully to the users' guide at the beginning, and then follow the instructions step by step.

Callers should check and note down the area code for their destinations before using the booking system, as they would be asked to provide it when booking.

A maximum of three tickets can be booked at once and callers should remember their reference number and password. After a booking has been confirmed by operators, people should pick up their tickets before the stated deadline, or the booking will be cancelled.

The booking system can handle 1,000 callers at a time.

Editor: Catherine