What they say

Editor's note: The State Council Information Office on Thursday held a group interview in Beijing on pioneering the development of China's high-speed rail network.

As China's high-speed rail network becomes more interconnected and its technologies continuously update, the requirements for training high-speed train drivers have become increasingly stringent. We have adopted training methods that closely mimic real driving scenarios, utilizing simulation equipment to recreate over 20 practical situations, including harsh weather conditions and natural disasters. This allows high-speed train drivers to practice repeatedly, enhancing their ability to perform standardized operations and handle emergencies.

Kong Xiangpei, high-speed train driver at the Jinan locomotive depot of China Railway Jinan Group

The key to fast and efficient operation of high-speed trains lies in their power and control systems, often referred to as the "heart" and "brain" of the train. At the end of last year, we innovatively applied our high-speed rail permanent magnet traction technology to the prototype of the world's fastest train, capable of reaching speeds of 400 kilometers per hour. Compared to the current Fuxing trains, this new technology increased traction power by 20 percent while reducing weight by 20 percent, reinforcing China's leading position in high-speed rail technology.

Feng Jianghua, chief scientist of CRRC Corporation

When serving visually impaired passengers, I often wonder what specific needs they have during their travels and how we can best meet those needs. To gain insight, our team and I wore blindfolds to simulate their experience. The moment I put on the blindfold, everything turned dark, and I felt a profound sense of panic, as if each step might lead to a collision. These firsthand experiences prompted us to refine and enhance our services from the passengers' perspective. Over the past five years, more than 200,000 priority passengers have benefited from seamless services from "train door to home door", and 12,000 visually impaired passengers have traveled smoothly.

Li Yuan, service team leader at Shenzhen North Station of China Railway Guangzhou Group

After graduating from junior high school, I learned electric welding and mechanical processing while working on construction sites. Then I joined China Railway 21st Bureau Group and participated in the construction of several major railways across the country. These railway engineering projects are vast and complex, often presenting a range of challenges that require specialized technical solutions. Tackling these world-class challenges also demands numerous small innovations and inventions to overcome the pain points and difficulties encountered during construction. I feel incredibly fortunate to have transitioned from a migrant worker to a modern industrial worker in this prosperous era.

Ma Xiaoli, staff member of the Pingliang-Qingyang railway project of China Railway 21st Bureau Group

The Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway is China's first such project abroad and a flagship project of China-Indonesia partnership under the Belt and Road Initiative. Through technological innovation, we've tackled the immense challenges of building high-speed rail in areas prone to volcanoes and frequent earthquakes. By integrating cultural elements like batik patterns into the station designs, we've demonstrated our respect and appreciation for Indonesian culture, turning the railway into a bridge of cultural connection.

Xia Jian, chief engineer of the overseas business department of China Railway Design Corporation