Real Name Train Ticket Fails to Stop Scalpers

China's pilot scheme to sell railway tickets based on ID cards might not be able progress to other cities, as it fails to meet the initial goal of beating scalpers.

Spokesperson from the Ministry of Railways Wang Yongping told China's Central Television that the real name initiative helps clear up ticket selling information, but ticket hoarding by scalpers is not completely wiped out.

He adds further promotion of the scheme will be prudent.

Real-name tickets began selling three weeks ago in China's Guangdong province, where millions of migrant workers will head back home for the upcoming Spring Festival.

The supply of railway tickets in China often fails to meet demand. Every year during the Spring Festival exodus, many people cannot obtain tickets from authorized outlets and are forced to buy from scalpers.