Smoke alarm occurred 26 times on electric multiple units (EMUs) of the Chengdu Railway Bureau in Sichuan province within 10 days after the Spring Festival travel peak started on Jan 8.

According to the bureau, the alarm occurred on EMUs running from Chengdu to Chongqing, Chengdu to Dazhou and Chengdu to Dujiangyan, resulting in the spin-down and late arrival of some EMUs.

Each compartment, walkway and toilet in an EMU is equipped with the smoke alarm system. Once a smoke alarm occurs, the EMU has to lower its speed from 200 km/h to 120 km/h.

Mechanics, police and the conductor have to rush to the scene to confirm the situation. There will be an emergency stop for checks if necessary.

Although anti-smoking broadcast is available on EMUs, a few passengers hide in toilets smoking, the bureau says.

In 2011, smoke alarm occurred 97 times on EMUs of the bureau. On the first 18 days of this year, it occurred 33 times.

Since late September 2009, EMUs running from Chengdu to Chongqing, Chengdu to Dazhou and Chengdu to Dujiangyan have started operation in succession.

Because of their high speed, the EMUs have had a very high occupancy rate. It is overcrowded during the Spring Festival.

For the safety of the EMUs, the bureau asks passengers to take safety regulations into consideration, bureau official say.