Since early October, a strong cold air has swept through China from the north to the south, and the temperature in North China and Northeast China has plummeted by over 10 C.

Judging from the existing information, there is a high probability of "early snow" in northern China in the winter of 2025 and 2026, and the snow intensity may be higher than usual, Qiu said.

Hu noted that ensuring the safe and smooth operation of railway transport during winter has always been a priority for Chinese railway operators.

As rain and snow recently hit some areas in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region in Northwest China, the railway operators have enhanced measures to ensure smooth and safe rail transportation, he said.