Checks underneath

Within the maintenance site, technicians need to venture into a nearly one-meter-deep inspection passageway, where bright lights illuminate the undercarriage of the train.

"Inspecting components demands side lighting from various angles. Even tiny cracks as fine as a strand of hair, when illuminated by a flashlight, can reveal minor fractures and beam cross-sections that necessitate careful observation and assessment," said Wu Yingqiang, the Party secretary of the maintenance base.

"When it comes to safety, there are no shortcuts, and any hint of negligence is unacceptable," said Wu.

Under auxiliary work platforms situated on each side of inspection passageways, heating devices are installed, easily distinguishable due to the temperature contrast with the ground.

This arrangement plays a critical role in maintaining the trains, particularly during the winter season when they traverse snow-prone cities like Yantai and Weihai in the eastern region of Shandong province.

In these areas, snow can accumulate beneath the trains due to strong air currents, gradually turning into ice as temperatures fall.

This ice can adhere to components such as brake equipment beneath the train. Prior to the routine inspection, a de-icing procedure is essential to thaw the snow and ice buildup, enabling a thorough underside examination.

"In the past, de-icing was a labor-intensive process that involved manual labor using small hammers. It required a delicate touch — too gentle was ineffective, while excessive force posed a risk of damaging the components," said technician Tian.

A team of four people used to spend nearly two hours to complete the de-icing work for a train with eight carriages, he said.

But now, with the introduction of heating devices, the ice melts into water within a mere 20 minutes, streamlining the process and reducing the labor intensity significantly.