The Unforgettable Training Experiences in China

By Joseph Ma & Gao Zhenzhong

CRH trains in Wuhan Station Marshalling Yard 武汉动车段“万舰待发”

As a saying goes,“Railways are the most important vehicles in building a powerful nation.” Only when railway construction is accelerated can a country operate smoothly.Many developing countries approve of China's development model in this respect and have started to speed up the development of their own railway industries.

The Chinese people always maintain that it is better to teach a man to fish than to give him fish.Along with the upgrading of its own railway industry,China is also helping some developing countries to build their own railway industries.Therefore,the training of railway management talents has become essential to the development of the railway industries in these countries.

Inrecent years,many countries have been organizing their railway management and technical personnel to attain professional training and vocational skills training in China.As the only institute for high-speed railway personnel to train their vocational skills in China Railway,Wuhan Highspeed Railway Vocational Skills Training Base has undertaken the task of in-service training.Over the course of training,foreign students experience China's highspeed railway in an all-round dimension.The short period of training time adds knowledge,laughter,and precious memories to students' life.

We went into the training base to explore the cooperation between China's and the world's railway industry—particularly China's efforts in training new railway management to unveil this unknown mystery to the world.

In the autumn of October,Wuhan is heavy with the aroma of osmanthus blossoms.And thousands of trainees are receiving strict training in different rooms of Wuhan Highspeed Railway Vocational Skills Training Base,which is located on the bank of Yanxi Lake,Donghu High-tech Zone.

According to relevant statistics,the base has trained more than 140,000 trainees for China's highspeed railway.It is also a site for pre-job training and the national entrance examination for Chinese high-speed rail drivers.

In our interview,Huang Mingjun,deputy secretary of the CPC Committee of the training base,told us proudly,“The base has been a shining name card for China's high-speed railway and a bridge to the railway industry in some developing countries.So far,more than 500 foreign railway operators from over thirty countries,have come and visited here,participated in meetings,and received training.It also provides an opportunity for us to participate in and make contributions to the Belt and Road Initiative.”

As he introduced us to the program,Huang Mingjun showed us the photos of and training materials for the foreign trainees that have been trained here.In reading the materials,we seemed to have seen the scenes of foreign trainees who received training:

On-site training for railway mechanics 动车组机械师专业现场演练

Simulation driving console of the training base 培训中心仿真驾驶操作台

难忘中国高铁培训体验

文/何塞 高振忠

“交通强国,铁路先行。”只有铁路发展起来，一个国家的资源才能加快速度运转起来。许多发展中国家对中国的这个观念非常认同，开始着手加快自身铁路建设事业的发展。

中国人一贯认为，授人以鱼不如授人以渔。随着自身铁路事业的发展，中国也在帮助一些发展中国家发展自己的铁路事业。在这个过程中，铁路管理人才的培养成了这些国家发展铁路事业的关键。

近年来，很多国家不断组织铁路管理人员和技术人员来到中国，接受铁路管理专业进修和职业技能培训。武汉高速铁路职业技能训练段，作为中国铁路唯一的高铁人员职业技能培训机构，责无旁贷地承担起了实操培训任务。在训练段里，外国学员们全方位体验中国高铁，短短的时间，留下无数欢声笑语，保存了人生一份珍贵的回忆。

我们走进该训练段，了解中国铁路与世界铁路的相互联系，尤其是在涉外培训方面中国为世界铁路发展所做出的努力，揭开这块世人未见的神秘面纱。

金秋十月，江城桂花飘香。中国武汉市东湖高新区严西湖畔的武汉高速铁路职业技能训练段大楼灯火通明，上千学员分布在各个训练室里接受严格训练。

据统计，这里已为中国高铁岗位培育了14万余人，挑起了中国高铁发展的大梁。这里还是中国高铁司机岗前培训和准入考试的场所，这种“国考”又为她的神圣增添了几分神秘。

该段党委副书记黄明军了解我们的来意后，自豪地告诉我们：“武汉高速铁路职业技能训练段已经成了中国高铁对外展示的窗口和连接发展中国家铁路事业的纽带，到目前为止，已经有30多个国家500余名国外铁路运营人员，到这里参观交流和培训学习，这也为训练段助推‘一带一路’建设提供平台和机会。”

黄明军一边介绍，一边拿出外国学员在这里接受培训学习的照片和资料，在翻阅讲解中，我们仿佛看到了外国人接受培训时的一幕幕场景：

2018 was the busiest year for foreign railway colleagues.

2018年是国外铁路同行来训练段培训最频繁的一年。

On June 22,twenty-three Ethiopian railway managers came for training,which helped promote the successful operation of the first electrified railway in East Africa—the Addis Ababa Djibouti Railway.The trainees received high-speed rail skills training,experienced high-speed rail simulation driving,and learned from the experience of China’s railway operation management and personnel training.

6月22日，23名埃塞俄比亚铁路管理人员到训练段接受培训，促进了中国在东非建成的第一条电气化铁路——亚吉铁路安全运营。学员们接受了高铁技能培训，体验了高铁模拟驾驶，分享了中国铁路运营管理和人才培养方面的经验。

On July 9,the base welcomed fourteen Hungarian high-speed rail operation and management personnel.At present,China,Hungary,Serbia,and other European countries are engaging in the construction of Hungary-Serbia High-speed Railway,which will extend to Greece,forming the “China-Europe Land-Sea Express Line.”

7月9日，训练段迎来14名匈牙利高铁运营管理人员。当前，中国和匈牙利、塞尔维亚等国家正在推进匈塞高铁建设。该高铁线路还将延伸至希腊，形成“中欧陆海快线”。

7月11日，为配合加纳实施重点发展全国铁路网规划实施，加纳组织20名铁路官员来段受训。学员们体验试驾了动车组模拟器，同时分享了中国高铁的成功经验，达到了交流学习、拓展提高的目的。

On July 11,Ghana sent twenty railway officials to receive training here in order to implement the national railway network plan for its development.The trainees experienced a test drive on the EMU simulator and shared in the successful experience of China’s highspeed railway,fulfilling the purpose of exchange,learning,and improvement of global railways.

On July 21,nineteen participants to the Nepal Railway Design and China Standard Seminar received a special training here,which helped the acceleration of the cooperation between China and Nepal in building a trans-Himalayan Railway.China and Nepal signed an agreement to establish a border railway connecting Lhasa/Shigatse of Tibet in China with Kathmandu,the capital of Nepal.The railway will run through the Himalayas,the world’s highest mountain range,thus creating a milestone of railway construction in the world.

7月21日，尼泊尔铁路设计与中国标准研修班19名学员在这里接受了专项培训，它对加快推进中国与尼泊尔的铁路建设合作，尽快实现铁路穿越喜马拉雅山产生推动作用。中国与尼泊尔签署合作协议，确定两国将兴建边境铁路，连接中国西藏拉萨/日喀则和尼泊尔首都加德满都，这条铁路将穿越世界第一高山脉——喜马拉雅山，再创世界铁路建设的奇迹。

On August 20,the Government of Djibouti organized a 27-person railway operation management workshop to receive special training in the base.The trainees received theoretical knowledge of basic skills,operation practice,and management experience in the dispatching hall,as well as the mechanic training room,the EMU full-function simulation driver’s cab,and other places—therefore,their competence has improved greatly.

8月20日，吉布提政府组织27人铁路运营管理研修班来训练段接受专项培训。学员们在调度大厅、机械师实训机房、动车组全功能模拟驾驶室等现场接受了基本技能操作实习和管理经验方面的理论学习，铁路建设理念得到了提升。

On September 13,in order to speed up the construction of economic corridors in developing countries,a seminar on cooperation in the construction of economic corridors and connectivity in developing countries was successfully held during the training sessions,and participants from eleven countries,including Tanzania,Kenya,Morocco,Egypt,Vietnam,Indonesia,Cuba,and South Sudan,benefited greatly.The Belt and Road Initiative has contributed to the construction of six major economic corridors in developing countries,enabling more than 60 developing countries to achieve win-win results.

9月13日，为助推发展中国家经济走廊建设，发展中国家经济走廊建设与互联互通合作研修班在训练段圆满结束，来自坦桑尼亚、肯尼亚、摩洛哥、埃及、越南、印度尼西亚、古巴、南苏丹等11个国家的学员得到了学习提高。“一带一路”倡议促成发展中国家建设六大经济走廊，促使沿线60多个发展中国家互利互赢、共同受益。

On September 15,twenty-four Zambian trainees from departments involved in railway planning and management conducted on-site practice and theoretical discussion in the base.Because China Railway Construction Co.,Ltd.has undertaken the construction of Zambia’s Eastern Line Railway Project,in order to meet their needs,Zambia organized trainees to train in China in order to accelerate the construction of its own railway,as well as promote the improvement of skills and quality of its own railway operation and maintenance management personnel.

9月15日，24名来自赞比亚铁路规划与管理相关部门的学员在训练段进行了现场实习和理论研讨。中国铁建承建了赞比亚东线铁路工程，这次赞比亚组织学员到中国培训，是为了适应发展需要，加快本国铁路建设，促进本国铁路运维管理人员技能、素质等各方面的提高。

On October 23,twenty trainees from the Afghanistan railway construction and management department received professional training here.Afghanistan and China both belong to a community of shared futures with mutual interests.China supports Afghanistan’s integration into regional cooperation,helps Afghanistan promote interconnection with neighboring countries,links the Belt and Road Initiative with the Afghan national transformation and development strategy,and strengthens comprehensive cooperation between the two sides to promote common development.

10月23日，阿富汗铁路建设与管理研修班的20名学员在这里接受专业培训。阿富汗与中国是彼此利益攸关的命运共同体。中国支持阿富汗融入区域合作，帮助阿富汗推进同周边国家的互联互通，将中国的“一带一路”倡议同阿富汗国家转型和发展战略对接，加强双方全面合作，促进两国共同发展。

From November 29 to December 2,thirty students from a highspeed rail operation management workshop organized by the Government of Thailand came here to conduct practical training.They made a special trip to the training base after a three-week program in high-speed rail operation and management at Beijing Jiaotong University.Among the trainees,Panuman of the Thailand National Railway Engineering Bureau said emotionally,“It’s meaningful to visit and study in the Wuhan training base.After experiencing the simulated driving of high-speed rail train,I’m so excited.The driving simulator is practical and true to life,from which I gained a lot of good experience.Meanwhile,we also see that there is advanced high-speed railway equipment and there are many vocational skills in Wuhan High-speed Railway Vocational Skills Training Base.We need to learn all of these things in-depth.We hope that in the future,we can consolidate contact and longterm cooperation,provide more advanced experience for the development of the Thailand National Railway,and contribute to the development of Thailand’s railway.”

11月29日至12月2日，泰国组织高铁运营管理研修班30名学员在这里接受实作培训。他们是在北京交通大学进行了为期三个星期的高铁运营管理专项学习后，专程来训练段进行实作培训的。学员中，泰国国家铁路工程局的帕努曼深有感触地说：“这次到训练段来参观学习是一件非常有意义的事，在亲自感受高铁动车的模拟驾驶后，心情非常激动。模拟驾驶器很逼真，实作性很强，体验非常好，收获很大。同时我们也看到，武汉高速铁路职业技能训练段有很多先进的高铁设备和职业技能，我们需要深入学习，希望今后我们能加强联系、长期合作，能够为泰国国家铁路的发展提供更多的先进经验，为泰国铁路的发展提供更大的帮助！”

On November 4,the Philippines organized a total of twenty-three trainees of a railway planning and management workshop to have a oneday professional training on railway theory and onthe-spot practice here in the base.

11月4日，菲律宾组织铁路综合规划管理研修班共23名学员在训练段进行了为期一天的铁路理论和现场实作专业培训。

In 2019,the base has continued to receive trainees and guests from all over the world.

2019年，训练段继续接待来自世界各地的客人。

On September 3,in order to help Kenya strengthen the operation and management of the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway,China trained forty Kenyan railway operation and management personnel in practical operations,and offered them guidance in the area of power supplies,signals,public works,vehicles,dispatching,and the like.“It has been two years since the completion of the railway,a symbol of friendship between China and Kenya,” said Harrison,a manager from the railway.“Today,we come to Wuhan High-speed Railway Vocational Skills Training Base to learn railway vocational skills.It will play a significant role in enhancing the management of the Mombasa Nairobi Railway and upgrading the operation quality.We are truly grateful for China’s support and help.”

9月3日，中国为帮助肯尼亚强化蒙内铁路运营和管理，专项培训了40名肯尼亚铁路运营管理人员，对他们进行了实训操作培训，并在供电、信号、工务、车辆、调度等方面对他们进行了强化指导。蒙内铁路管理人员哈里森诚恳地说：“象征着中国与肯尼亚友谊的蒙内铁路竣工通车两年了。今天，我们又到武汉高速铁路职业技能训练段来学习铁路职业技能，这对加强蒙内铁路管理，提高运营质量将会发挥良好作用，非常感谢中国的支援和帮助！”

On September 18,a training program titled “Seminar on Economic Corridor Construction and Connectivity Cooperation in Developing Countries” was successfully held in the base,and participants from eight countries,including Bosnia & Herzegovina,Indonesia,Venezuela,Kenya,Egypt,Nepal,Nigeria,and Laos improved their skills here.“Safe,efficient,and fast,China’s high-speed rail system from south to north is quite advanced,” praised Milanovic Mario,from Bosnia and Herzegovina,giving a thumbs-up to China’s high-speed rail after experiencing simulated driving.

9月18日，“发展中国家经济走廊建设与互联互通合作研修班”实作培训在这里圆满结束，来自波黑、印度尼西亚、委内瑞拉、肯尼亚、埃及、尼泊尔、尼日利亚、老挝等8个国家的学员得到了学习提高。

“I'm amazed to see the development of China's highspeed railway,and we hope to strengthen our exchanges and cooperation with China.” After experiencing the simulated driving,Sungsa Dolcofa from Laos said candidly that he hopes to grasp the advanced technology of China's high-speed railway in Wuhan High-speed Railway Vocational Skills Training Base and serve his country in the future.

Wang Sheng,engineer of Training Department of the base,said that in recent years,more and more friends from the Belt and Road countries have come to visit Wuhan.Previously,the Yangtze River Bridge,Yellow Crane Tower,and other attractions were their go-to sites.But now they are more willing to come here to learn Chinese technology and feel the power of Chinese wisdom.

Xu Weijun,director of the Teaching and Research Office of EMU Drivers of the base,has witnessed the development of China's high-speed railway,namely,from learning from abroad to developing independent innovation,and then becoming a world leader in this field,and its growth from the role of an apprentice who went abroad to learn technology to the role of an instructor who train learners from all over the world.“I saw the sparkle of admiration in our foreign trainees' eyes,” he said proudly,“seeing China's high-speed rail development achievements; we also recall that when we went abroad to study many years ago,we had admired others in our hearts too.”

As some newly-trained foreign railway managers said,the training base demonstrates the speed and strength of China's railway development while providing foreign students with knowledge of railway management and personnel training,which has benefited them a lot.

Here,the railway colleagues from developing countries all over the world have witnessed the prospect of railway development,become aware of the important role and outstanding contribution that railways can have for the national economy,and formed firm confidence in developing their own national railway.

The teachers in the base tell their foreign friends and trainees that,China is willing to work hand in hand with the Belt and Road countries,share their railway science and technology with other countries,and create everlasting peace and promising prospects together.(Translation: Qing Run)

On-site maintenance training for railway mechanics高铁电缆维修培训

Teachers of the base monitoring and assessing students’ performance动车组司机监控考评学员

“安全、高效、快捷，中国从南到北的高铁系统很完善，很先进。”来自波黑的米兰诺维奇·马里奥体验完高铁模拟驾驶后，为中国高铁竖起了大拇指。

“看到中国高铁的发展我感到很惊讶，我们希望加强与中国的互联互通、交流合作。”来自老挝的斯永莎·多尔科法在体验完模拟驾驶后坦言，中国高铁实在太神奇了，希望能在武汉高速铁路职业技能训练段收获中国高铁的先进技术，服务于自己的国家。

武汉高速铁路职业技能训练段培训部工程师王胜介绍说，近年来，越来越多“一带一路”国家的朋友来到湖北武汉，以前长江大桥、黄鹤楼等人文景点是他们的必访之地，但现在他们更愿意到这里来学习中国科技，感受中国智慧的力量。

武汉高速铁路职业技能训练段动车组司机教研室负责人徐维军，从走出国门学技术的“留学生”，到培训外国人的“高铁教头”，他见证了中国高铁从取经学习到自主创新，再到引领世界的历程。他很欣慰地说：“我看到了外国人脸上的那种惊叹。面对中国高铁的发展成就，我们也想起了当年出国学习时羡慕别人的情景。”

正如受训的外国铁路管理人员所说，训练段展示了中国铁路发展的速度和实力，也让外国学员学到了铁路管理和人才培养方面的知识，感到受益匪浅。

在这里，通过这个窗口，来自世界各地发展中国家的铁路同行们看到铁路发展的前景，深刻理解了铁路对于国家经济的重要作用和突出贡献，为外国学员发展本国家铁路事业坚定了信心。

武汉高速铁路职业技能训练段的同仁们也告诉外国朋友，中国的发展愿意与“一带一路”国家携手并进，中国的铁路科技愿意与世界各国分享，中国人民愿意与各国人民一起创造和平、美好的未来！