Shanghai railway staff finds fame with rapid typing, spoken English

A video showcasing a Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station employee's rapid typing and fluent English skills has gone viral, highlighting the station's efforts to accommodate the growing number of international travelers.

In the video, You Yuan, who has been working at the station since it opened in 2010, deftly assists foreign passengers with ticket purchases and changes. Her remarkable typing speed and clear communication skills have drawn widespread praise online.

"Compared to the past, one-third to two-thirds of our daily customers are now international travelers, as most domestic travelers buy tickets online," said You, who transitioned to ticket sales in 2015. "English has become an essential skill for us."

According to railway authorities, 1.6 million foreign passengers purchased train tickets at Shanghai railway stations last year, a 200 percent increase from 2023. The surge followed China's expansion of transit visa-free periods from 72/144 hours to 240 hours and an increase in accessible ports and regions.

To meet growing demand, railway staff workers have undergone rigorous language training.

"We regularly attend training sessions and practice through real interactions," You said. "My goal is clear communication and successful transactions."

The station has also implemented technological upgrades. Since November 2023, foreign passengers have been able to verify their passport information online, bypassing in-person checks. Last year, Shanghai Hongqiao upgraded its payment systems to accept international credit cards, including Visa and Mastercard.

"Beyond hardware upgrades, we've intensified foreign language training for staff across various positions to ensure seamless service," said Wang Fang, deputy marketing chief at Shanghai Railway Station.

Tourists have praised the improvements.

Jaime Martinez, a traveler from Spain, described the ticketing experience as "very helpful", noting how English-speaking workers have helped foreign passengers navigate China's high-speed rail network more easily.

China's railways are expanding rapidly. In the Yangtze River Delta region alone last year, four new high-speed rail lines were launched, and the construction of five more has commenced. The region's railways had transported over 800 million passengers by Nov 19 last year, reaching this milestone 40 days earlier than in 2023.

For You, the modernization effort is a far cry from the early days of paper tickets and long queues. "Now, it's not just about typing quickly, but also mastering multiple skills to handle diverse needs," she said.