Passengers with special needs can now travel with ease as Beijing South Railway Station upgraded its services in time for Spring Festival or Chinese Lunar New Year.
Some of the services include offering free health examinations and providing first-aid treatment as well as medicine.
Apart from station employees themselves assisting passengers with disabilities, there are also volunteers nationwide spending their vacations to help people during the travel rush.
“Passengers can also make phone calls and requests to be picked up by the station’s staff upon arrival,” said Zhang Runqui, in-charge of the station’s service desk for passengers with special needs.
The hectic 40-day travel period known as chunyun is a major test for railway authorities. This year’s lunar year falls on Jan. 28, and the chunyun travel rush stretches from Jan. 13 to Feb. 21.
Statistics show that up to 356 million trips are expected to be made via rail over this 40-day period this year.
It transports hundreds of millions of passengers, most of whom are traveling home to meet their loved ones.
Almost always, accommodating special groups such as the elderly, children, pregnant women, and the physically disabled people is a challenge. But now, it’s different.
“When a passenger’s train is about to depart, the station communicates with the train’s crew to ensure the passenger receives special care during the trip,” said Zhang.
Zhang has been working at Beijing South Railway Station for almost 18 years.
She has witnessed the station’s transformation into one of the largest railway stations in Asia and the starting point of the Beijing-Shanghai High Speed Railway.
While she admitted, that her work at the station has given her the opportunity to serve many people and experience China’s cultural presence and warmth of spring festival, she had to helping those in need comes with sacrifices.
“My six-year-old daughter often calls me and asks, “Mom what time will you be home?” she said.
The only consolation they have is when passengers appreciate the services and give them heartfelt gratitude.