Travelling by train Mid February

Hi, my friend wants to travel from Jian'ou (Fujian, Nanping) to Shanghai on the 14th of February (or 13th or 15th), but all trains are fully booked for days.
She made some kind of "pre-reservation" a week ago (which apparently gives her a ticket if one becomes available), but it seems that won't happen.
Do you think more ticket will become available eventually?
Or do you have any other idea how she could get to Shanghai?