What they say

Editor's Note: The State Council Information Office invited five representatives of outstanding railway professionals to meet journalists and answer questions in Beijing on Tuesday.

I drove trains on railways with average altitudes of over 3,000 meters and 4,000 meters. Despite the harsh environment, it is a proud and fortunate thing for me — a child from a farming and herding family — to work along the railway and serve my hometown. My colleagues and I overcome severe cold weather and oxygen deficiency to ensure the safe and smooth operation of the railways (in Xizang autonomous region). It is our sacred mission.

Sonam Wangdrak, driver instructor of the No. 1 Operating Workshop of the Golmud Locomotive Maintenance Section of China Railway Qinghai-Tibet Group Co

When I joined the work, there were only two railways crossing through Zhengzhou — the Beijing-Guangzhou Railway and Lanzhou-Lianyungang Railway. At that time, the speed of passenger trains was 60 kilometers per hour. I have witnessed the strong development of China's railways. The railway network has been extending, with a growing volume of train traffic and a higher number of passengers. Although becoming busier, my responsibilities have not changed. Over 13 years of working to dispatch trains, I have safely handled the arrival and departure of over 370,000 trains, carrying more than 300 million passengers. I am very proud of my work.

Jiang Tao, on-duty station officer at the Operating Workshop of the Zhengzhou Station of China Railway Zhengzhou Group Co

The Spring Festival travel rush has seen a significant passenger increase entering and leaving the island of Hainan. More trains have been added to meet passenger demand. We in the signal department use the time period from 12 am to 4 am — when there are no trains operating along the railway — to maintain and inspect signal equipment to ensure safety. Although passengers may not see our work, we maintain the signaling equipment to ensure the safe travel of passengers.

Wang Xiaobing, signal worker of the Haikou Comprehensive Maintenance Workshop of the Haikou Comprehensive Maintenance Section of China Railway Guangzhou Group Co

In the Uygur language, Taklimakan means "enter and never come out", and this desert is also known as the "Sea of Death". Now the 2,712-kilometer railway that encircles the desert has connected the five prefectures of southern Xinjiang. More and more people take the railway and travel to other parts of the country. My hometown, Kashgar, is known for the production of xinmei. The plums have been transported by train to other parts of the country. Tourists also take trains to travel to Xinjiang. I have felt proud and honored to see so many changes in my hometown.

Mierban Aiyiti, chief conductor of the Hotan No. 1 Fleet of the Korla Passenger Section of China Railway Urumqi Group Co

I have conducted thorough inspections to identify all potential safety hazards along the railway and eliminate accidents. Over the past decade on the Hangzhou-Shenzhen Railway, I have patrolled 110,000 kilometers of railway track, visited 5,000 households and delivered safety education to 600,000 people.

Zhu Shaoming, third-grade sergeant at the Huilai Railway Police Station of the Huizhou Branch of the Guangzhou Railway Public Security Bureau