‘Slow train’ connects farms to tables across China

Goats, pigs, ducks…on a train? China’s public welfare trains may not have the speed or shine of their high-speed counterparts, but they serve a very important role: connecting villages to cities, offering farmers, livestock owners, and many others direct access to markets in urban centers. Passengers bring their livestock or farm produce to the market on these trains, paying ticket prices that are sometimes as low as 2 yuan ($0.30). CGTN’s Bhargab Sarmah explains how, even as China’s high-speed rail network takes massive strides, its public welfare trains ensure no one is left behind in the country’s development journey. 

All aboard the “vegetable express”! This No. 7272 “slow train” from the mountains of southern China is a lifeline for rural farmers who rely on it to transport fresh harvest to the markets. Running 178 kilometers from Hunan Province to Guizhou Province, this train provides safe and convenient commute for farmers to sell their agricultural produce.