The China State Railway Group Co (China Railway) has announced the extension of the train tickets presale period to 15 days starting from June 1, compared with the five days allowed in April, to meet travel demand as the overall epidemic situation in the country eases.

The adjustment sends a clear signal of an accelerated nationwide work resumption expected in June, as both Shanghai and Beijing are inching toward a full recovery from the most severe COVID-19 outbreak. Additionally, more stimulus measures have been announced and implemented to support nationwide economic recovery, experts said.

The shift is aimed at implementing the policy from the central government to stabilize the overall economy and accommodate the needs of passengers, according to China Railway.

As the trend in the number of passengers shows signs of warning up, the railway department will accommodate transport capacity and increase the number of passenger trains on the premise of strict COVID-19 prevention measures, the China Railway added.

The decision reversed the previous announcement made in April that shortened the presale period of railway tickets to five days from April 7.

The change in the presale of tickets signals a nationwide full work resumption expected in June, Cong Yi, professor at the Tianjin University of Finance and Economics, told the Global Times on Monday. The measure also comes as Shanghai and Beijing, China's two megacities, are gradually walking out of the shadow of Omicron outbreaks.

The prolonged ticket presale can give passengers more options to book trips when they return to the workplace. At the same time, it is also an advanced arrangement for a potential shortage of transportation capacity in June when full work resumption kicks off, Cong said.

As Shanghai, China's commercial hub, heads for a full return to normality staring June 1, more passengers trips are expected to flow into the whole Yangtze River Delta region, Cong added.

Shanghai is set to emerge from its closed-loop management on Wednesday with residential communities and public transport reopening, and vehicles allowed to get back on roads in an orderly manner, the municipal government announced on Monday.

The number of new COVID-19 cases in Beijing has also dropped significantly for eight consecutive days, local authorities said at a regular press conference on Monday.

The efforts of the railway sector to stabilize the economy came after an unprecedented meeting organized last week by the State Council, China's cabinet, that focused on supporting the country's economy.

During the meeting, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang stressed protecting the economy's resilience and striving to ensure reasonable growth for Q2 and a decline of the unemployment rate, as soon as possible, to keep economic operations within a reasonable range.

China's economy is likely to rebound strongly in June as the resumption of work accelerates, Cong said.

"It is expected that China's economic growth in the second quarter could grow at a range between 2 and 4 percent on a yearly basis and stronger growth is expected in the second half of the year," Cong added.