Young technicians tackle ice in railway tunnels for safe train services

Members of a maintenance squad wait as a train runs past in north China's Shanxi Province, Feb. 3, 2026.

A team of maintenance technicians, most born in the 2000s, has spent the winter months shoveling and removing ice from railway tunnels deep in the mountainous terrain in Shanxi province to safeguard passengers' trips.

Embarking on the patrol journey at dawn, they trek more than nine kilometers every day to clear ice in seven railway tunnels. The arduous chipping, shoveling and transporting of large ice chucks means the technicians are totally burned out after a day of work.

During the Chinese New Year, the team will stay on duty to ensure the safe operation of train services. Through their efforts, thousands more who have been working far from their hometowns for almost a year will be able to ride the train and return home safe and sound. (Xinhua/Cao Yang)

Members of a maintenance squad wait as a train runs past in north China's Shanxi Province, Feb. 3, 2026.

A team of maintenance technicians, most born in the 2000s, has spent the winter months shoveling and removing ice from railway tunnels deep in the mountainous terrain in Shanxi province to safeguard passengers' trips.

Embarking on the patrol journey at dawn, they trek more than nine kilometers every day to clear ice in seven railway tunnels. The arduous chipping, shoveling and transporting of large ice chucks means the technicians are totally burned out after a day of work.

During the Chinese New Year, the team will stay on duty to ensure the safe operation of train services. Through their efforts, thousands more who have been working far from their hometowns for almost a year will be able to ride the train and return home safe and sound. (Xinhua/Cao Yang)

Technicians prepare to break ice in a railway tunnel in north China's Shanxi Province, Feb. 3, 2026.

A team of maintenance technicians, most born in the 2000s, has spent the winter months shoveling and removing ice from railway tunnels deep in the mountainous terrain in Shanxi province to safeguard passengers' trips.

Embarking on the patrol journey at dawn, they trek more than nine kilometers every day to clear ice in seven railway tunnels. The arduous chipping, shoveling and transporting of large ice chucks means the technicians are totally burned out after a day of work.

During the Chinese New Year, the team will stay on duty to ensure the safe operation of train services. Through their efforts, thousands more who have been working far from their hometowns for almost a year will be able to ride the train and return home safe and sound. (Xinhua/Cao Yang)

A technician breaks ice on the wall of a tunnel in north China's Shanxi Province, Feb. 3, 2026.

A team of maintenance technicians, most born in the 2000s, has spent the winter months shoveling and removing ice from railway tunnels deep in the mountainous terrain in Shanxi province to safeguard passengers' trips.

Embarking on the patrol journey at dawn, they trek more than nine kilometers every day to clear ice in seven railway tunnels. The arduous chipping, shoveling and transporting of large ice chucks means the technicians are totally burned out after a day of work.

During the Chinese New Year, the team will stay on duty to ensure the safe operation of train services. Through their efforts, thousands more who have been working far from their hometowns for almost a year will be able to ride the train and return home safe and sound. (Xinhua/Cao Yang)

A technician breaks ice on the wall of a tunnel in north China's Shanxi Province, Feb. 3, 2026.

A team of maintenance technicians, most born in the 2000s, has spent the winter months shoveling and removing ice from railway tunnels deep in the mountainous terrain in Shanxi province to safeguard passengers' trips.

Embarking on the patrol journey at dawn, they trek more than nine kilometers every day to clear ice in seven railway tunnels. The arduous chipping, shoveling and transporting of large ice chucks means the technicians are totally burned out after a day of work.

During the Chinese New Year, the team will stay on duty to ensure the safe operation of train services. Through their efforts, thousands more who have been working far from their hometowns for almost a year will be able to ride the train and return home safe and sound. (Xinhua/Cao Yang)

A technician breaks ice in a railway tunnel in north China's Shanxi Province, Feb. 3, 2026.

A team of maintenance technicians, most born in the 2000s, has spent the winter months shoveling and removing ice from railway tunnels deep in the mountainous terrain in Shanxi province to safeguard passengers' trips.

Embarking on the patrol journey at dawn, they trek more than nine kilometers every day to clear ice in seven railway tunnels. The arduous chipping, shoveling and transporting of large ice chucks means the technicians are totally burned out after a day of work.

During the Chinese New Year, the team will stay on duty to ensure the safe operation of train services. Through their efforts, thousands more who have been working far from their hometowns for almost a year will be able to ride the train and return home safe and sound. (Xinhua/Cao Yang)

Members of a maintenance squad walk in a railway tunnel in north China's Shanxi Province, Feb. 3, 2026.

A team of maintenance technicians, most born in the 2000s, has spent the winter months shoveling and removing ice from railway tunnels deep in the mountainous terrain in Shanxi province to safeguard passengers' trips.

Embarking on the patrol journey at dawn, they trek more than nine kilometers every day to clear ice in seven railway tunnels. The arduous chipping, shoveling and transporting of large ice chucks means the technicians are totally burned out after a day of work.

During the Chinese New Year, the team will stay on duty to ensure the safe operation of train services. Through their efforts, thousands more who have been working far from their hometowns for almost a year will be able to ride the train and return home safe and sound. (Xinhua/Cao Yang)

A technician clears ice from the railway tracks in north China's Shanxi Province, Feb. 3, 2026.

A team of maintenance technicians, most born in the 2000s, has spent the winter months shoveling and removing ice from railway tunnels deep in the mountainous terrain in Shanxi province to safeguard passengers' trips.

Embarking on the patrol journey at dawn, they trek more than nine kilometers every day to clear ice in seven railway tunnels. The arduous chipping, shoveling and transporting of large ice chucks means the technicians are totally burned out after a day of work.

During the Chinese New Year, the team will stay on duty to ensure the safe operation of train services. Through their efforts, thousands more who have been working far from their hometowns for almost a year will be able to ride the train and return home safe and sound. (Xinhua/Cao Yang)

Head of a maintenance squad (1st R) briefs about ice breaking skills in a railway tunnel in north China's Shanxi Province, Feb. 3, 2026.

A team of maintenance technicians, most born in the 2000s, has spent the winter months shoveling and removing ice from railway tunnels deep in the mountainous terrain in Shanxi province to safeguard passengers' trips.

Embarking on the patrol journey at dawn, they trek more than nine kilometers every day to clear ice in seven railway tunnels. The arduous chipping, shoveling and transporting of large ice chucks means the technicians are totally burned out after a day of work.

During the Chinese New Year, the team will stay on duty to ensure the safe operation of train services. Through their efforts, thousands more who have been working far from their hometowns for almost a year will be able to ride the train and return home safe and sound. (Xinhua/Cao Yang)