CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- Chongqing Rail Transit (CRT) Line 4, known as ‘the special train for farmers carrying bamboo baskets’, has got lots of attention these days. To facilitate travel for farmers who do not understand Mandarin Chinese, CRT Line 4 plans to roll out station announcements in Chongqing dialect in some stations of Line 4 in April. CRT Line 4 will be Chongqing’s first train line that offers station announcements in the Chongqing dialect.

With a total length of 32.8 kilometers, the second phase of CRT Line 4 started operation in June 2022, connecting Shichuan Town, Yubei District, and the downtown area.

Before the opening of CRT Line 4, most of the farmers living along the line used to sell vegetables at low prices in Shichuan Town and received a few customers. Since the opening of the line, the number of farmers who catch the early train to downtown Chongqing to sell vegetables has increased. That's why CRT Line 4 is affectionately known as ‘the special train for farmers carrying bamboo baskets’.

To facilitate travel for those farmers who do not understand Mandarin Chinese, CRT Line 4 Construction Operation plans to roll out station announcements in the Chongqing dialect in some stations of CRT Line 4.

Dialects are an indispensable part of local culture, and we hope that the station announcements in Chongqing dialect will present our cultural charms, said Chongqing Rail Line 4 Construction Operation. In fact, they have been planning the Chongqing dialect version of the broadcast design since the end of last year, to provide passengers with diversified transport services and convenient transport experiences.

“We have invited seven to eight company staff members and professional announcers to try recording voice announcements in Chongqing dialect, to offer friendly station announcements with Chongqing’s characteristics. After repeated comparisons, a female's voice was finally selected. The station announcements in the Chongqing dialect are in production and will be rolled out in April in some stations of Line 4. Line 4 will be Chongqing’s first train line that offers station announcements in the Chongqing dialect.

In addition to the station announcements in Chongqing dialect, many other considerate transport services have been offered to farmers:

Shichuan Station, which usually opens at 6:20 in the morning, sometimes opens earlier for farmers carrying baskets.

Considering that it’s inconvenient to put bamboo baskets on the security machine, the security inspector conducts security checks on the baskets using a hand-held scanner.

The station staff members also help these farmers carry baskets of vegetables and guide them to take the straight elevator into the platform.

During the morning peak, cleaning staff is sent to clean up the car and maintain order in a timely manner.

The company will continue to upgrade the transport services for passengers on CRT 
Line 4 and optimize the riding rules based on the needs of farmers. It is their great honor to make the loving and warm Chongqing seen. (Translated by Yuki, Fathom Language Limited)