What do you mean by alternate ticket purchase?

What do you mean by alternate ticket purchase?

Alternate ticket purchase refers to a ticket purchase service and method on 12306 platform. When purchasing tickets through 12306 website and APP, if there is no ticket for the required train or seat, you can voluntarily submit the advance payment according to the date, train, seat and ticket purchase demand, and the ticketing system will automatically wait in line. When there is a refund for the corresponding train or seat, the system will automatically cash the ticket and inform the service of the purchaser of the ticket purchase result.

On 20 18 12.22, China Railway Corporation announced the detailed rules for the pilot of "standby ticket purchase", starting from 12.27, the pilot was carried out in the long-distance section in the direction of tight peak capacity in Spring Festival travel rush.

If there is no ticket for the required train or seat, passengers can submit their ticket purchase requirements according to the date, train and seat, and pay the ticket in advance. If there are refunds or tickets left online, the 12306 system will automatically purchase tickets. Each user can submit 1 standby order, and each standby order can reserve 3 tickets.

"Alternate ticket purchase" means that passengers who have not bought tickets for the first time can queue up for refund or change their tickets for the first time by submitting alternate orders.