The Ministry of Railways said it cannot slash the price of “no-seat” train tickets because of the huge costs it shoulders during the Spring Festival travel peak, the Beijing News reported on Thursday.

A spokesman of the ministry said that the “no-seat” train tickets are sold to meet the demands of passengers who cannot secure seats on trains during the Spring Festival holiday, a traditional holiday for family reunions.

The price cannot be slashed, because railway authorities “have to spend large amounts of money organizing trips and maintaining facilities”, the spokesman said.

In addition, railway authorities have to halt the operation of many cargo trains to make way for the passenger trains, he said.

The response was made after many netizens called for cheaper “no-seat” train tickets, arguing that it is not fair that no-seat passengers pay the same prices as those who have a seat.