A railway operator said an internal disciplinary inquiry found ticketing misconduct on Train 7266 after passengers questioned the tickets they received. The statement was published on November 13, 2026, and concerned a journey on November 9.
The train, which runs from Huaihua to Lixian North, carried 428 passengers that day. Of those, 179 boarded at stops where tickets are issued on board. The operator said a conductor collected the correct fare of 7 yuan each from nine passengers travelling from Dalongcun to Jishou, but issued them tickets showing a 4-yuan fare from Zhoujiazhai to Jishou. The passengers challenged the discrepancy at the time. The train chief apologized and instructed the conductor to issue corrected 7-yuan tickets.
Although the operator said the nine passengers were not overcharged, its inquiry classified the conductor’s conduct as disciplinary misconduct involving tickets for personal gain. It said the conductor received a major demerit and a three-month suspension from duty. The train chief received a warning and a one-month suspension; other managers also faced disciplinary or financial measures. The operator said it would strengthen staff oversight and require video recording throughout onboard ticket issuance.