Ma Ximing, a female railway police officer, patrols a high-speed train on Jan 20, 2025. [Photo by Dong Senhe/chinadaily.com.cn]
When I met Ma Ximing, a 25-year-old female railway police officer, she was meticulously preparing for her patrol, adjusting her uniform and packing inspection equipment.
"This is my daily routine," she said. "I start by patrolling the perimeter of the high-speed train and then move on to thorough checks inside the carriages."
It is the second year that Ma is working during the Spring Festival travel rush.
Ma Ximing, a railway police officer, assists an elderly woman to her seat on a high-speed train on Jan 20, 2025. [Photo by Dong Senhe/chinadaily.com.cn]
As she spoke, an elderly lady with graying hair entered the carriage with unsteady steps. Ma rushed to her side, assisting the woman to her seat.
"It's also a part of our job. We often encounter elderly passengers who require special attention and care, especially during the travel rush," Ma said.
Ma, who comes from a strong police background, has a deep family imprint. She gained a profound understanding of the police profession and aspired to pursue a meaningful career that helps others. After graduating from the Liaoning Police College with a major in criminal investigation, she chose to become a railway police officer.
Ma Ximing, a railway police officer, checks the fire extinguishers on a high-speed train on Jan 20, 2025. [Photo by Dong Senhe/chinadaily.com.cn]
For railway police officers, their duties involve not only maintaining train security and ensuring passenger safety during the journey but also handling various emergencies and offering assistance when passengers encounter difficulties.
"The Spring Festival travel rush is a period of heightened issues. Passengers are eager to return home, often leading to instances of misplaced or forgotten luggage. We need to constantly remind them and also raise awareness about preventing telecommunications fraud," said Ma.
In the narrow confines of the carriage, Ma tirelessly patrolled back and forth countless times. "When it comes to travel safety, there are no shortcuts, and any hint of negligence is unacceptable," she emphasized. Daily, railway police officers are required to inspect the entire train every hour. Constant attention to detail, understanding passenger needs, and risk prevention are crucial aspects of their work.
Ma Ximing, a railway police officer, poses with passengers after explaining the steps to take to prevent telecommunications fraud on a high-speed train on Jan 20, 2025. [Photo by Dong Senhe/chinadaily.com.cn]
Ma's fiance, Wo Di, is also a railway police officer. During this year's Spring Festival travel rush, they both chose to stay at their posts, safeguarding the safety of passengers. Due to the nature of their work, they have limited time to meet each other, but they understand and support each other and remain steadfast in their duties to ensure the safe travel of passengers.
