(ECNS) — Passengers can now buy fresh produce and local specialties aboard some slow trains in southwest China, where train cars have been redesigned to double as rural markets.
China Railway Kunming Group has transformed sections of public-service trains, including services 5652/5651 between Kunming in Yunnan Province and Hongguo in Guizhou Province and 7466/7465 between Kunming and Yuanmouxi in Yunnan Province, into a hybrid of passenger seating and market space.
Half of each designated car retains regular passenger seats, while the other half serves as an open sales area equipped with seating and fair scales. Farmers along the routes can sell seasonal fruits and vegetables, wild mushrooms and other local specialties.
The trains, which stop at dozens of small stations in mountainous areas, serve as public transport linking remote villages. One route covers 261 kilometers, with fares as low as a few yuan.
To accommodate farmers and other passengers, the trains provide dedicated space for produce, along with water, spray bottles and ropes to keep goods fresh and secure. Railway staff also help farmers load and unload their baskets, while train attendants promote local specialties to passengers.
(By Gong Weiwei)
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