To the Train "Emergency Room" and Neighbouring "4S Store" - Ambassadors' Wives Had an Immersive Learning Trip of the "Steel Man and Iron Horse"

On October 25, the wives of ambassadors to China from Benin, Gabon, Ghana, Mali, and Nicaragua among others paid a visit to Xi'an Locomotive Depot and Xi'an Passenger Car Depot of China Railway Xi'an Group Co., Ltd., where they stepped into the "4S Store for Trains" and the "Emergency Room for Trains" to admire the power of China epitomized by the "steel man and iron horse" that contribute to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The ambassadors' wives taking a group photo at the car maintenance yard, photo by QIAO Yongzhen

During the tour, the ladies watched the car-moving platform, flaw detection robot, daily maintenance of locomotives, visited the smart tool warehouse, and watched procedures such as the employees' standardized work drills, D1 repair operations of power-concentrated electric multiple unit (EMU) "4S shop", disassembly and inspection of automated power-concentrated EMU couplers, and power-concentrated EMU cab on-board facilities. After the tour, the ladies had a first-hand understanding of the process of how the maintenance personnel tackle "difficult and complicated technical issues" to ensure the safe operation of the train. "This is the first time I have seen so many intelligent operations and controls that assure the safe operation of trains. I never thought that there are so many maintenance steps after the train reaches the destination," said BOKPE EPSE ADOVELANDE Christiane, wife of Benin Ambassador to China.

Locomotives in neat arrangement at the maintenance yard, photo by QIAO Yongzhen

Behind the smooth operation of trains in the vast land is a fast developing country, a  dynamic China." We hope that in ten years, Africa will be as technologically advanced as China, and that China Railway can help African countries develop together," said HAMMOND KWARTEMAA AKUA, wife of the Ghanaian Ambassador to China. (Text by LI Na)