BEIJING: Some high-speed trains in China have piloted “quiet cars” for passengers who opt for a quiet and undisturbed travel experience.
The “quiet car” is often the No. 3 carriage on the train, with onboard videos muted and announcements made at a lower volume. Doors at the ends of the carriage will be closed to reduce noise from the vestibule.
The service is now available on some trains of the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway and Chengdu-Chongqing high-speed railway, starting from Thursday.
Passengers aboard the “quiet cars” must obey rules such as keeping volumes low and wearing headphones or turning off speakers while using electronic devices.
They should also leave their seats to make or answer a call, and their phones should be muted or turned to vibrate mode during the trip.
The move led to heated discussions on the Internet, with many welcoming the new practice.
“I make at least one round trip a week between Chengdu and Chongqing for work. I sometimes need to focus on my work or get some rest during the hour-long trip. The ‘quiet car’ is a good choice for me,” said Li Like, a 34-year-old Chengdu resident. –PNP
