The Making of a High-Speed Railway Driver

Text by Lei Chuang,Gao Zhen Zhong ＆ Zhou Kai Photos by Mei Tao

As a Chinese saying goes,“It is the locomotive engine that accelerates a train.” How can the locomotive speed up a train? It is actually because of the skillful driver who controls it inside.

So how do the operators who run the fastest and most modern train system in the world live and work? What is the difference between them and ordinary train operators?

Recently,we visited the Wuhan High-speed Railway Training Center and came to learn how a qualified driver was made.

学员参加15分钟的面试，回答考官提问。 Trainees being interviewed by the examiners

The Wuhan High-Speed Railway Training Center is a training school that equips operators with relevant theoretical knowledge. It has already trained over 70,000 trainees to operate bullet trains since its establishment four years ago,among whom over 400 are oversea trainees from countries along the Belt and Road.

Xu Weijun,head of the teaching and research office,explained to us that only operators with a college degree,two years driving experience,and over 100,000 kilometers of safe driving are entitled to the training. All the trainees have to learn 12 subjects and participate in two tests regarding Driving Security Regulations and EMU (Electric Multiple Units) Security Theories in one month.

参加复试的学员正在进行心理素质考试。 Trainees taking part in a psychological test

在紧张的理论学习之余，高铁准司机们还要进行体质训练。Trainees doing physical training

There are over ten simulated cabs at the Wuhan High-Speed Railway Training Center that are equipped the same as a real Railway High-Speed Cab. In class,the trainees get a chance to digest and absorb the theoretical knowledge from the simulated driving classes,get familiar with each step of operation,and the right procedures and security regulations in order to avoid any mistakes.

According to Xu Weijun,prospective operators could resume the one-month practical training course organized by the railway administrations on the condition of passing the theoretical test.

The South Wuchang Locomotive Depot of China Railway Wuhan Group is responsible for the practical training of trainees. There,experienced drivers teach the new trainees how to drive safely.

Jing Tao,deputy director of the depot introduced that at the very beginning,the trainees should watch how their teachers operate,and get familiar with the relevant knowledge of driving,parking,phase separation,and line signals. After 5,000 kilometers of “trial driving,” the trainees are allowed to operate a real train under the guidance of a teacher. “It is a pressing moment for every trainee—they often sweat a lot during their first operation,” Jing Tao said.

Like driving a new car for the first time,the driver will feel both excited and nervous. When the train speed reaches 300 km/h,trainees who are not mentally strong will tremble. During training,the trainees will write down every mistake they make on their notebooks so as to practice correspondingly in the simulated cabs later on. Once a trainee’s driving miles reach 3000 kilometers,they are allowed to participate in the operation exam. As long as they pass the examination,they can apply for an operator’s license for the China High-Speed Railway.

However,obtaining a license does not mean that you can operate a bullet train promptly. Besides this course,operators must enroll in a one month preservice training.

The pre-service training will be even stricter than what they had before,and the trainee must sign a safety agreement with his teacher. Since there are passengers on the train,the teacher must ensure that under their guidance,no accident occurs when the trainee is driving.

(Translation: Zhao Mengchen)

学员们参加理论学习 Trainees learning EMU theories

学员们参加模拟驾驶训练 Simulated driving practice for trainees

学员在师傅的现场指导下实操驾驶 Trainees are operating a locomotive under the guidance of an experienced operator