A recent video capturing two of China's sleek bullet trains racing along parallel tracks almost perfectly in tandem has been widely shared online.
The scene was filmed as the two trains appeared to perfectly line up along in a section of the Nanning-Guangzhou High-speed Railway and the Guiyang-Guangzhou High-speed Railway.
It showed one of the country's Harmony CRH trains, which was traveling from Guangzhou South to Yibin West, running right alongside a train of the Fuxing series, which was en route from Hong Kong West Kowloon to Nanning East.
This situation typically arises when the two trains are moving at similar speed and the parallel section of the track is sufficiently long enough to enable them to run "side by side", according to Zhang Wenhui, a train driver from the Guangzhou Locomotive Depot.
"In fact, we often encounter this on the tracks, but as high-speed train drivers, we must always keep our eyes on the tracks ahead and maintain constant vigilance. High-speed trains travel very quickly, and the airflow can interfere with our vision. Additionally, the windows are treated to reduce glare, making it difficult to see the faces of the crew in the other train, let alone know who they are," said Xiao Hongyu, another train driver from the Guangzhou Locomotive Depot.
During operation, drivers must maintain concentration on the track ahead, monitoring signals and instrument readings. The driver's cabin is equipped with a safety alert system that requires them to press a pedal or button every 30 seconds to constantly update their status when on route.
However, while maintaining their focus, Zhang said the drivers sometimes do have special ways to "greet" each other.
"If two trains happen to pass through a section at the same time, and their timings and speeds align well, we might use standardized signals, like sounding the horn once in a non-restricted zone. It’s our way of acknowledging each other," he said.
China has by far the world's most expansive high-speed rail network, with the country having constructed over 48,000 kilometers of high-speed tracks, accounting for more than 70 percent of the world's total.
High-speed rail has become one of the most popular travel choices in China, with up to 10,000 high-speed trains operating daily nationwide, serving as many as 16 million passengers each day.
High-Speed trains caught in ‘side-to-side' encounter sparks online buzz
