Weekly Newson Railways （August9th~15th）

    Headed by Vice Chairman of 10th CPPCC National Committee & Minister of CCCPC’s  United  Front  Work Department Liu Yandong, the delegates from  the  central  committees of democratic parties, All-China Federation of Industry & Commerce and nonparty personage  concluded their QTR visit on August 12th. As a key infrastructure of the  national  economy, the artery of  economic  development  as  well as a crucial  mass transportation means, railway  holds  a  decisive  and  irreplaceable role in the national economy, Liu was quoted as saying. She encouraged the local governments of  Qinghai  and Tibet to seize the historical opportunity marked by the launch  of QTR line, embrace the golden period for railway construction during the 11th FYP, bring into full play of railway’s boosting role to the local  economy and achieve quantum economic development. MOR Minister Liu Zhijun noted, MOR will carry out the  scientific development philosophy in  an  all-round  way, steadfastly implement General Secretary Hu Jintao’s instruction of realizing a world-class management of QTR line; earnestly study  and  put  into  practice the delegation’s proposals and advice on railway work, and well manage QTR line so as to bring concrete benefits to the local people of all nationalities.
   
    On  August  10th, Member of CCCPC Political Bureau & Guangdong Provincial  Party  Secretary  Zhang Dejiang delivered important comments on   Guangzhou  Railway  Group’s  instruction-request report on convening a commendation meeting on flood and hazard fighting, which was submitted to Guangdong Provincial Government and MOR. Zhang was quoted as writing, Guangzhou Railway Group worked so hard, made significant contributions and won great victory in resuming railway traffic on the Beijing-Guangzhou Line and safeguarding the passengers’ life in the July campaign of flood fighting. This victory fully demonstrates Guangzhou railway staff’s heroic mettle as well as CR staff’s spiritual outlook in the new era.
   
    According to MOR Flood Control Office’s  urgent  circular issued on August 9th, all relevant units are urged to proactively guard against flood, with emphasis on precaution against strong wind and storm, so as to brace up for the landfall of this year’s 8th typhoon “Saomai”.

    According to CR’s televised transportation meeting on August 11th, this  year’s  8th  typhoon “Saomai” has  been the strongest one to China for the past 50 years. Although Saomai has not brought about great damage to railway operation, all railway units have to stay alert to ensure passenger train safety.

    A  work  meeting on railway transportation was held in Yunnan province on August 2nd. While singing high  praise  for  Kunming Railway Administration’s outstanding contribution to Yunnan’s economic development, Yunnan’s Vice Governor Li Xinhua noted  that  Yunnan’s fast economic development raises higher demand on railway transportation and construction, and all local authorities are supposed to   strengthen  coordination  and  collaboration with the railway departments so  as  to  further contribute to the socio-economic development of Yunnan.
   
    In  view  of  likely  thunder  damage  to  railway  operation  in  the  flood and  thunderstorm season, CR  initiates  a  thunder protection responsibility mechanism, improves thunder protection standards, launches dedicated campaigns to overhaul signaling equipment, prepares emergency solutions so as to secure train operation safety by all means.
   
    From  July  on,  the passenger service inspectors of Shenyang and Harbin Railway Administrations have one more certificate-Passenger Service Inspection Badge of Shenyang and Harbin Railway Administration, which bears  the  seals  of  the Passenger Divisions  of both Administrations. Thus, they  are  entitled  to embark the other Administration’s passenger trains  to  play  their  inspection  role.  How  to   exercise  effective  inspection  over  passenger  service under  the circumstance marked by wide  administration  span, limited number  of  inspectors and narrow coverage  of  daily  inspection, has become a common challenge to both of the northeastern Administrations, since the reform of railway administrations managing directly over stations/depots and transport productivity rationalization.
   
    CR carried 740 million passengers in  the January-July period of this year, representing a dramatic increase of  8.7%  compared  with last year, according to MOR.  The  passenger volume experienced a surge in July, with the daily average at 3.701 million, which nears the 3.73 million record of the past Spring Festival period.
    MOR  Headquarters became a spotlight of Beijing’s public health campaign on August 10th. On that morning,  Beijing  Patriotic Health Committee held an experience sharing session among model departments of Beijing-based central organs at MOR. MOR’s patriotic health commission briefed the meeting on its experience.
   
    Faced with the new circumstance marked  by  heavy  task  of reform and development, great challenge of flood  control  and  high demand of enhancing the staff’s qualities, the Party Committee of Kunming Railway Administration launched a model-forging campaign  in  February  2006 while relying  on  Party  building with the 50 key Party units and 50 work teams scattered along the 2000 km railway lines,  which  has   elevated  the  administration’s overall Party building campaign to a new high.
   
    CR’s passenger service contest 2005 among express through passenger trains bound for Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou and among major stations has come to a conclusion. According to a passenger satisfaction survey on 70 stations (including 43 major passenger stations) and 80 passenger trains, which was  done  in  2005 by independent agencies, passengers are much more satisfied.

  Translated by Wang Jiayu