Tempers flare amid China holiday rail havoc

By John Ruwitch

GUANGZHOU, China (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of Chinese massed impatiently near a railway station in Guangzhou on Thursday, desperate to get on trains home for a major holiday after days of delay caused by snow.

Tempers flared as families and migrant workers surged into the station two days after being urged to stay in the southern metropolis for the Lunar New Year holiday, the most important on the Chinese calendar. For millions, this is their only chance to see family all year.

"How do you expect us to get up there? What arrangements are in place?" Lai Lihua, a textile worker from the Guangxi region, adjoining Guangdong province, yelled at a policeman.

The officer could only repeat that people must wait until they could reach the platforms and board trains.

"I have less information than you do," he said.

China's battle against brutal winter weather has spurred a propaganda push to try to comfort millions of cold, stranded and dismayed citizens, as more winter storms threatened many areas.

Snow, sleet and ice blanketing much of central, eastern and southern China have killed dozens, cut power and hobbled transport ahead of the holiday, which starts on Wednesday.

Throughout the day, thousands of people were lucky enough to cram into the dozens of trains that left Guangzhou and headed north. Station officials were busily arranging departures, and some said they had no idea how many trains had actually left.