BEIJING, May 7 (Xinhua) -- China's national railway network set multiple records in both passenger and freight traffic during the eight-day May Day holiday travel rush, according to the China State Railway Group Co., Ltd..

From April 29 to May 6, passenger trips operated by China's railways totaled 159 million, up 5.2 percent year on year.

On May 1 alone, 24.84 million railway passenger trips were made, a new single-day high.

Meanwhile, the national railway network transported 93.5 million tonnes of cargo, an increase of 4.5 percent compared to the same period last year. On May 2, freight loading also hit a new single-day record of 202,400 carloads.

To meet strong travel demand for tourism, family visits and leisure activities, railway authorities increased transport capacity, operating an average of 13,525 passenger trains daily, up 5.7 percent year on year. On May 5, the number of trains in operation reached a record 14,576.

According to China Railway, a total of 81 themed tourist trains were put into service connecting popular scenic spots, while cross-border passenger traffic also rose significantly.

The Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong high-speed railway handled 899,000 trips, up 6.3 percent year on year, and the China-Laos Railway carried 9,000 cross-border trips, an increase of 20.9 percent. ■