Chengdu Suspends 31 Trains Amid Heavy Rainfall

China Railway Chengdu Group Co., Ltd. has temporarily suspended 31 train services at Chengdu railway stations on August 3 as a precautionary measure against heavy rainfall forecast across the Sichuan Basin, Chongqing, and Guizhou. The decision, announced on the evening of August 2, was made to ensure passenger safety during the peak summer travel season, according to Xinhua News.

Weather Conditions Trigger Precautionary Measures

The suspension comes as meteorological forecasts predict significant rainfall from August 2 through August 4 across the northeastern Sichuan Basin, most of Chongqing, and most of Guizhou. The affected railway lines include the Xi’an-Chengdu High-Speed Railway, Baoji-Chengdu Railway, Lanzhou-Chongqing Railway, New Chengdu-Kunming Railway, Dazhou-Chengdu Railway, Xiangyang-Chongqing Railway, and Chongqing-Guiyang Railway.

The temporary suspensions affect trains departing from Chengdu as well as those passing through the city, impacting routes to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Shenyang, Xining, Lanzhou, Urumqi, Kashgar, and Kunming. A spokesperson for Chengdu Railway Station noted that the situation remains fluid, stating that “currently it is the peak summer travel season, and suspension measures may change depending on the situation.”

Broader Regional Impact

The Chengdu suspensions are part of a wider disruption across the region. CCTV News via CNR reported that China Railway Chengdu Group suspended a total of 92 trains on August 3, including 31 at Chengdu Station, 38 at Chongqing Station, and 23 at Guiyang Station. The broader suspension covers the Shanghai-Kunming Railway, Xi’an-Chengdu High-Speed Railway, and Lanzhou-Chongqing Railway, affecting routes from Chongqing to Beijing, Kunming, Urumqi, Fuzhou, and Lanzhou, as well as from Guiyang to Kunming, Xining, and Hohhot.

On August 2, the railway group had already suspended 52 trains as the weather system began to intensify. According to Jiemian News, those initial suspensions covered routes from Chongqing to Beijing, Guangzhou, Urumqi, and Guiyang, and from Chengdu to Lanzhou, Shanghai, Qingdao, and Fuzhou, affecting the Xi’an-Chengdu High-Speed Railway, New Chengdu-Kunming Railway, Lanzhou-Chongqing Railway, and Xiangyang-Chongqing Railway.

The heavy rainfall has also prompted disruptions beyond the southwest. Beijing’s suburban railway lines—the Huaimi Line and S2 Line—were fully suspended on August 3 due to rainfall warnings, while China Railway Harbin Group suspended some short-distance and branch-line trains in Heilongjiang, which is also experiencing significant precipitation.

Emergency Response and Passenger Support

Chengdu Railway Station activated its emergency response plans immediately, issuing timely public announcements about delays and suspensions while setting up additional ticket refund and exchange windows to help passengers process changes quickly. The station manages 31 railway stations in the Chengdu area, including Chengdu Station, Chengdu East, Chengdu South, Chengdu West, Shuangliu Airport Station, Tianfu Airport Station, and stations along the Chengdu-Guanxian line.

The National Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters and the Ministry of Emergency Management initiated a Level IV flood control emergency response for Guizhou on the afternoon of August 2, underscoring the severity of the weather situation.

Summer Travel Season Context

The suspensions come at a particularly busy time for the region’s rail network. The 2026 summer railway travel season, running from July 1 to August 31, has seen Chengdu Railway Station handle an average of 700,000 passenger arrivals and departures per day. As of July 31, the station had cumulatively processed 21.715 million passengers, with Chengdu East Station alone averaging 450,000 passengers daily. The station operates approximately 1,096 passenger trains per day during the summer season.

“Evening departure, morning arrival” sleeper trains have been particularly popular, with occupancy rates exceeding 85 percent on routes to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen.

What Passengers Should Know

Railway authorities advise passengers to check the latest train schedules through the official 12306 website or mobile app before traveling, as operation plans are being adjusted dynamically in response to changing weather conditions. Passengers affected by the suspensions are entitled to full refunds without fees, including those with connecting tickets. The railway department also recommends monitoring the “Chengdu Railway 12306” Weibo account or calling the 12306 hotline for real-time updates.

As the rainfall is expected to continue through August 4, further adjustments to train services remain possible. Passengers traveling through the affected regions are urged to plan their journeys with flexibility and stay informed about the latest developments.