(Yicai Global) Jan.26 -- Hainan High-speed Railway Co. has installed facial recognition devices at six stations serving the island-loop route in the southern province to increase operational efficiency make experiences more convenient for passengers.

Registered users are able to enter station gates through facial scanning rather than showing a ticket, making passenger flows faster, the company said in a press briefing yesterday.

Authorities will also bring in the service at the east railway station in the provincial capital of Haikou ahead of the 2018 Chunyun peak travel period running from Feb. 1 to Mar. 12. For the Chinese New Year holiday. 

China's rail sector is currently undergoing a period of digital transformation with operators looking to implement new technologies to improve operations. State-owned railroad operator China Railway Corp. announced plans earlier this month to introduce intelligence systems for power supply and scheduling, as well as smarter services in train stations to make passenger experiences more convenient on routes serving Beijing and 2022 Winter Olympics host city Zhangjiakou.