Recently, there have been heavy snowstorms in various places, and the key is in the Spring Festival, which has added a lot of trouble to going home. In the photos taken by many netizens, the high-speed rail is basically lying on its stomach. But many netizens replied, "Go and ask the green-skinned ancestor to come back." What kind of existence is the green train, which can stick to its duties in such a harsh environment. Despite the blizzard, it was able to operate stably. That's really a generation's memory.
The first "green train" in mainland China began to run on New Year's Day in 1984. From this time, the "green car" became the main force of passenger transport. People choose it mainly for low fare, safety and punctuality. But now the green train is running less and less.
The main reason is that the technology is constantly updated, and the green car is a general-speed train, with backward technology, no air conditioning, and slow speed. High-speed rail and bullet train technology have been applied, and this kind of faster and more comfortable train has been favored at once. This has seized the market for green cars.
Although the number of green trains has decreased, they have not been completely replaced. For example, in some remote areas and at specific times, there is still some demand for green trains because of their relatively low fares and wide coverage. For example, the small green car to Qinling in Shaanxi is only 6 yuan.
The main reason is that heavy snow will cause snow or ice on the tracks, which will seriously affect the braking performance and steering stability of the train. High-speed trains have extremely high requirements for track conditions, and slight unevenness or slippage can lead to serious safety hazards.
The power source of high-speed rail is to obtain power through the overhead catenary, and blizzard may cause the catenary to freeze, poor conductivity or damage to the line, affecting the normal operation of the train's power supply system. The speed of the high-speed train is fast, and those who have sat on the front of the locomotive know that the view of the locomotive is excellent. However, heavy snowfall can limit the line of sight, making it difficult for drivers to clearly observe the road conditions ahead, such as the track conditions to be constantly observed, and the signal equipment along the way.
The extreme temperatures brought by the blizzard may cause the train's mechanical parts, electrical equipment, and rubber seals to become brittle and fail due to low temperatures, reducing the reliability of the equipment. Bridges, tunnels, etc., create additional loads, and these infrastructures need to be safe in extreme climates.
The green car is able to maintain operation in a blizzard environment, mainly because the mechanical structure is relatively simple and robust, and the body can withstand a certain degree of wind and snow pressure. Specially designed bumpers and windshields are used in the connecting parts of the carriages, which can mitigate the lateral impact forces caused by wind and snow to a certain extent. The chassis system is stable, especially the bogies, which provide the necessary grip and anti-skid function on snow and ice. In extreme conditions, the vehicle is low and the body is heavy, which results in better stability and grip.
Green cars also have their own anti-skid measures, such as installing snow tracks, using winter-specific tires or adjusting the braking system to accommodate low-friction surfaces. The green car has served various climates and environments for a long time, and has accumulated rich experience in snow operation and mature maintenance and management technology.
Trains are railroad trains, and it is also important to remove snow from the tracks in heavy snowstorms. The railway also has large snowplows, which are equipped with powerful rotating brushes and snow-blowing equipment to quickly clear large areas of snow. There are also thermal snow melting vehicles, which melt snow and ice directly by installing heating elements (e.g. gas burners, heating wires, etc.) under or in front of the car body. There are also snow throwers, which use high-speed rotating blades to throw snow from the track to the sides.
Antifreeze or snow-melting salt is also spread on the railway, or a special steam generator is used to generate high-temperature steam to melt the ice and snow on the track surface. Others use compressed air or other high-pressure gases to blow the snow away from the track through a specific nozzle.
In this kind of weather, the most worrying are the train drivers, who have to pay close attention to the blizzard warning issued by the meteorological department and follow the emergency plan formulated by the railway operation management department in the blizzard weather. It will actively reduce the speed of trains and increase the braking distance to deal with problems such as slippery roads and poor visibility caused by snow accumulation, and reduce the risk of accidents. It is also necessary to pay more attention to the situation of the line, closely observe the track status through the lookout window, and strengthen the communication link with the dispatch center and other train drivers to ensure the smooth flow of information. So if you encounter this kind of thing, you should also understand the train staff.
When we encounter blizzard weather while riding the train, we need to pay attention to the official broadcast, train staff notices and mobile phone channels in real time to understand the train operation status and possible adjustment plans. Bring enough clothing for the cold, such as a down jacket, hat, gloves, etc., and prepare a raincoat in case the snow gets wet.
Follow the arrangements and instructions of the train staff, and if you need to evacuate or transfer to other vehicles, you should act quickly and orderly and do not panic. Be patient, understand and support the necessary decisions made by the railway department.