China's railway network transported 24.8 million passengers on May 1, a new single-day record, according to data from the China ​State Railway Group. The national railway system is also expected to transport 19.7 million people on May 2. Some lines had to add new trains to handle the influx of holiday passengers. This success is seen as a boost for the national economy, which is facing pressure from weak consumption and a prolonged property downturn.