In the video, CO₂ concentration is shown to rise from about 880 ppm to over 2,000 ppm after passengers boarded and the train departed, with many passengers appearing to have fallen asleep.
Studies show that decision-making ability declines as concentrations rise from 600 ppm to 1,000 ppm, while cognitive function drops significantly at around 1,400 ppm, offering a possible explanation for why passengers may become drowsy in enclosed train cabins.
A customer service agent from the China Railway 12306 hotline said that trains meet air-quality standards and that higher CO₂ readings may be linked to passenger density.