On the platform of Huaihua Station in the early hours of November 10, a team of construction workers was engaged in a vigorous tug-of-war — not in sport, but in a unique scene of cable replacement at the Huaihua Station contact network overhaul site on the Shanghai-Kunming Railway. Under the cover of night, this race against time unfolded urgently during the 20 designated "maintenance windows" of the second phase of construction by China State Railway Group.
Huaihua, a central hub bordering five provinces (Hunan, Hubei, Chongqing, Guizhou, and Guangxi), is undertaking a contact network wire replacement project that does more than just "transfuse blood" into the railway system. It also creates a "blood-making" mechanism for western Hunan's development. What we are renewing is not merely a technical line but an economic artery that bolsters targeted poverty alleviation.
Behind the technical breakthroughs lies a thirty-year saga of railway modernization. This evolutionary journey saw the 1992 electrification of the Huaihua-Dalong section, followed by the phased electrification of the Shanghai-Kunming double-track line in 2001, and subsequent openings of the Chongqing-Huaihua line in 2006 and the northern Jiaozuo-Liuzhou line in 2007. Each transformation of Huaihua Station has mirrored the steady advancement of China's railway network.
The contact network equipment at Huaihua Station has now been in continuous service for over thirty years. "The equipment is severely aged, much like an elderly person prone to minor ailments—its reliability and safety are both declining," explained Hu Jianchao, head of the Contact Network Section. He emphasized the necessity of this overhaul and pointed out that the current equipment can no longer meet the demands of high-density, high-capacity operations. Therefore, an upgrade is urgently needed. These outdated facilities not only constrain train throughput but also pose significant operational risks.
The timeline moved to 4:00 am of October 29. Huaihua Station lay quietly nestled within the embrace of this blessed land. On Platform 8, the intersecting beams of headlamps cut through the night, tracing the golden lines of the overhead contact network. The predawn silence was shattered as foreman Zeng Majiao issued the command "Get ready" , 19 tower wagons rose simultaneously across the railyard; crew members, carrying fresh cables, swiftly ascended two units positioned at the platform's center.
The "maintenance window" operation allowed only 90 minutes of effective working time. The worksite was situated less than two meters from the non-power-off section of the downline, while the western throat area presented additional complexities: limited clearance at the crossover points and a dense distribution of wire positioning points across the catenary system. The site lead remarked, "Having successfully managed such a complex maintenance window here at Huaihua Station, we are fully prepared to handle any future challenges that come our way."
The smooth progress of the operation stemmed from the full implementation of standardized procedures during the "First Piece Qualification" phase of the preliminary centralized maintenance. At the pre-work meeting, all crew members raised their right hands and took a solemn safety pledge, their resolute voices echoing across the courtyard. As the tower wagon teams advanced steadily through the station, team leader Zhu Yunxiang led his crew in inspecting each mast: "Visual check, physical touch, and instrument test—not a single step can be skipped."
Aboard the maintenance train, crew members conducted a thorough cleaning of the insulators. Inside the tunnel, where the air was stifling and still, maintainers stood on tiptoe and reached upward, meticulously wiping the equipment with cotton cloths. Before long, their uniforms were stained with grime, yet the insulators had regained their original appearance.
"Everyone knows their position and the exact procedure to follow," said work leader Fu Junsen. "Adherence to standards is what ensures safety." When a potential hazard was identified, the crew worked with fluid efficiency: one worker lifted the contact wire upward from below while others removed the droppers, adjusted the alignment, and securely reinstalled them—the entire process completed seamlessly within minutes.
During this intensive maintenance campaign, department leaders coordinated operations directly at the worksite, while supervisors from all offices and workshops maintained full oversight throughout the process, with all staff dedicating their utmost efforts. As Liu Jihua, an assistant engineer in the workshop, aptly stated: "We function like gears in a clock—one large gear drives countless smaller ones, and all must mesh perfectly and run with precision."
The "Intensive Maintenance Care" initiative brought particular warmth to the workforce. On each red blessing bag, the phrase "Life First, Safety Foremost" stood out prominently. "Red is the color of warmth," remarked the moved crew member on site, "and these bags carry the care and support from our 'extended family'."
After intensive work, the new contact wires were successfully installed, their clear, standardized lines tracing graceful golden arcs in the dawn light. The crew gazed quietly at the quietly "renewed" railyard before them, the weariness of the night shift seeming to dissolve into the gradually brightening sky. In the distance, a morning train sounded its long whistle. Though daylight had yet to break, a new corridor had already been illuminated.
The renewal of the Huaihua rail hub is quietly taking shape with each precisely executed nighttime operation. This newly replaced "golden line" connects not just steel rails and power grids, but also weaves together the boundless possibilities for targeted poverty alleviation and future development in Western Hunan.
(Translated by Feng Tao)