Train school pulling in more foreigners

The appeal of China's high-speed trains has made a training school in Wuhan, Hubei province, a popular destination for overseas visitors, who can use simulators to experience being a high-speed train "driver".

More than 400 foreigners from around 20 countries have so far visited the school, called Wuhan High-Speed Railway Vocational Skills Training Duan, since it was established in August 2014, according to the school.

The school's latest group of visitors comprised 23 employees from EthiopiaDjibouti Railway Share Co, who visited the school on June 22 while participating for about two weeks in a seminar on railway management at Beijing Jiaotong University.

Samuel Biru, the company's capacitybuilding director, said he felt lucky to be chosen from about 500 of his colleagues to come to China to see and experience Chinese high-speed trains, which he has heard a lot about in Ethiopia.

He said the maximum speed for passenger trains in his country is 120 kilometersper hour, so he was amazed by the speed of the Chinese high-speed train — a maximum of around 300 km/h — that he rode from Beijing to Tianjin.

During their oneday visit to the Wuhan school, Biru and his colleagues were offered one hour to experience "driving" a high-speed train using a simulator. However, Biru's four colleagues were unlucky, since they didn't get to drive for even one second.

"I dominated it for a whole hour. I enjoy too much and even lost track of time," he said.

Biru said he would like to share his experience in China with his colleagues, friends and relatives after returning home.

Ethiopia plans to build 5,000 kilometers of railway line, and Biru said he looks forward to seeing high-speed trains in his country in the near future.

Michal Tefera Gurmessa, maintenance manager of EthiopiaDjibouti Railway Share Co, left the school regretting that he only got to "drive" for about six minutes.

"It's too short. I would like to take even longer time and I will be a good driver," he said.

The school received the largest group of visitors — 63from 13 countries, including Egypt, Thailand and Kenya — on June 12.

Li Bin, who has been a high-speed train driver for 10 years, has been an instructor at the school for about a year. He said he has seen an increasing number of foreigners visit the school.

"I have received so many foreign visitors that it's not easy for me to remember what countries they are from," he said.

He said it's interesting to talk with the foreigners, since many of them are curious about Chinese high-speed trains and would like to test the trains by standing a coin or cigarette on end while the train is moving to see if the objects can remain balanced.

Wu Siqiang, director of the school, said the training school works as a window for foreign visitors to see China's development with the help of high-speed trains.

"Some countries are still exploring their way for development. We would like to discuss with them whether the Chinese approach fits their countries," he said.

Contact the writers at houliqiang@chinadaily.com.cn