Why don't we run more "night high-speed trains" during holidays? Here comes the answer →

On October 1, the number of railway passengers reached 21.448 million, setting a new single-day record. Since the beginning of the holiday, many places have started running temporary passenger trains, and hot routes have also opened "night high-speed trains". So some netizens have asked, since the passenger flow continues to rise, why not open more "night high-speed trains"?

01 What is “night high-speed rail”?

The so-called "night high-speed train" refers to the high-speed train that runs from 0:00 to 4:00 in the morning every day. Under normal circumstances, the high-speed train needs to be inspected and maintained during this period. Just like cars need regular maintenance, after a day of operation, the EMU, lines, contact network and other equipment of the high-speed train must be inspected and maintained to ensure safe operation the next day.

02 A comprehensive plan is needed to launch “night high-speed rail”

Before each "night high-speed rail" starts operating, the transportation, dispatching and passenger transport departments must, based on the planned transportation plan, comprehensively consider various conditions such as equipment status and weather changes, and study and formulate a "night high-speed rail" operation plan.

While the "night high-speed rail" is running, the orderly operation of scheduled trains must also be guaranteed. Therefore, judging from the current holiday transportation plans of various places, the proportion of "night high-speed rail" operations is not large. The Wuhan Bureau of China Railway added 1,590 passenger trains during the holidays, of which 234 were "night high-speed rail", accounting for less than 15%.

03 Ensure the safe operation of every "night high-speed train"

During the transportation process, safety command centers at all levels are on duty 24 hours a day, and real-time monitoring of the technical status of high-speed trains, lines and other equipment, as well as the operation of each line, is carried out through remote monitoring equipment. At the same time, professional backbone teams from various trades such as locomotive, engineering, and electrical work go deep into the front line of transportation to monitor and control, and do their best to ensure the safe operation of every "night high-speed train".

04 “Night high-speed rail” drivers have a trick

Due to poor visibility at night and drivers' fatigue, the operation of "night high-speed rail" requires higher safety, which is a challenge for high-speed rail drivers to maintain their mental state and master various emergency response measures during driving. In order to ensure the safe operation of "night high-speed rail", the drivers responsible for operating "night high-speed rail" also have unique tricks. For example, during the 2023 Spring Festival travel season, the Nanchang Locomotive Depot of China Railway Nanchang Bureau sorted out the key points to pay attention to when operating temporary trains, and produced a "one card control for one night high-speed rail train" reminder card, requiring each on-duty driver to have a copy.

During the 2023 Spring Festival travel rush, Xiong Zhiping, a train driver at the Nanchang Locomotive Depot of China Railway Nanchang Bureau, strengthened his observation and standardized his operation during the train operation. (Source: Xinhua News Agency)

Comprehensive sources: CCTV News Client, Xinhuanet, etc.