According to the national railway train schedule reform work arrangement, the first batch of train schedule changes will be implemented soon. Regular-speed passenger trains that will start running at 0:00 on November 25th will officially use the new trains. Related tickets using the prefixes Z, N, and V will be on sale starting from November 11th.
A new coding system is a signal for upgrading railway supply capabilities. When buying tickets, the first thing you should pay attention to is the letters in front of the train number. In fact, behind the letters of the train number is the speed positioning of the train, which is also the "basic language" of railway operation dispatching. This round of regular-speed train schedule adjustment was the first to be implemented. The original complicated prefix rules were sorted out and integrated, and three types of marks, Z, N, and V, were defined to correspond to different speed levels. Recently, with the introduction of new prefixes, some new trains that sound homophonic to Internet slang have become the focus of netizens' attention. For example, the K587 train from Yangquan, Shanxi north to Zuoquan will be changed to V587 on November 25, which collides with the Internet term "V587" (homophonous for "powerful and domineering"). Many netizens are looking forward to riding the first train and feeling the "dominance" of this train. Another example is that the prefix Y for tourist trains continues to be used, and the number segments are used to distinguish dedicated lines from special trains, which does not disrupt the familiar travel habits of the public. It can be said that this train number change is a systematic revision of the coding rules that have been used for many years. The "speed attribute" is embedded in the train number identification, making dispatch identification, front-line management, and passenger identification more intuitive. The road network is getting denser and denser, more trains are running, transportation products are becoming more and more abundant, new lines and new models are constantly being put into use, and rules for new train number coding have been formulated in advance, making "Mobile China" full of hope and vitality.
New and old trains are smoothly connected, and people's livelihood travel continues to improve in every detail. The adjustment of train code will inevitably be accompanied by a transition period, and the railway department will design multiple "buffering" measures. For example, if tickets are pre-sold for fifteen days, the same train will display the old and new train numbers on different date pages during this period. The platform has specially launched a portal for comparing old and new train numbers, and the station's large screen, in-station broadcasts, and App pop-up prompts are followed simultaneously to guide passengers to check the arrival and departure times to avoid misjudgment caused by just looking at the letters of the train numbers. The train operating sections and departure times will basically remain the same, and the travel plan does not need to be significantly adjusted with changes in train numbers, minimizing the "obstruction" caused by train number changes. The train schedule reform maintains a step-by-step pace, helping high-speed, metropolitan, intercity, and suburban trains to be unified into the scope of adjustment; the step-by-step implementation gives passengers time to adapt, and also leaves a learning window for stations, dispatching, and passenger transport teams to reduce operational risks. The people's livelihood orientation of "stabilize first, then change, and convenience first" helps the reform to be implemented smoothly.
The number of trains is “new”, a capacity upgrade hidden in the letters. The innovation of the prefix Fang Cun shows the modern development process of China's railways to the world. The criss-crossing railway network not only serves passengers to travel smoothly, but also undertakes the important mission of transporting bulk commodities and serving international train channels. It is understood that the new trains introduced this time divide the China-Europe trains into different speed levels and use different number sections to distinguish them. Coal and energy bulk direct trains maintain the original numbering method, which is in line with the operational characteristics of stable transportation of bulk materials. Moreover, the high-speed rail has a "new mission". The newly added DH prefix is used for freight reserve. New freight categories and new transportation modes will be launched in the future. The entire train coding framework is both flexible and stable. When the second batch of reforms is implemented, the EMU segment will expand the prefix selection. The K and T prefixes that have been withdrawn from the general speed sequence will be re-enabled in the EMU sequence, and the encoding capacity will be significantly increased. Passenger and freight transport "go hand in hand". What can be seen is the new letters on the mobile ticket purchase page, but what cannot be seen is the actual actions of China Railway to benefit the people. Passenger trains take care of the identification habits of people visiting relatives, commuting, and long-distance travel. Freight anchors the responsibility of ensuring energy supply and stable operation of foreign trade channels. A set of rules simultaneously carries the tasks of people's livelihood and ensuring supply.
Thousands of miles of railway lines continue to extend forward, and "Mobile China" will not stop. A new train number and a new code are a new beginning and a new starting point. Through steady, moderate and forward-looking adjustments one after another, China Railway continues to hone its capabilities, steadily support the travel expectations of thousands of passengers, and continues to smooth the arteries for the circulation of materials. (Li Honghong, Miao Ruixiang)
