VietNamNet Bridge – Railway patrollers have to walk at least 20km per day, 26 days per month to check railway safety. After 30 years doing this job, when they retire, they walk a total path that is equivalent to four times around the earth.


Railway patrollers are responsible for checking the safety of railroads.
Most of them are local residents where railways run through.


Railway is divided into each 10km. A day consists of three shifts,
8 hours per shift. Patrollers walk 10km outward and 10km return,
totaling 20km per day. They will fix simple errors on the rail or
will shoot flares, whistle or wave flags to stop trains to avoid accidents.
Mr. Chu Quy Thanh followed his parent to become a railway worker.
He has done this job for 35 years. He still remembered the first days
 walking along the railways. His feet got blistered and his legs
were painful. But now walking 20km a day is very normal.
Pac Khanh tunnel in Lang Son province is 1,069m long but even if the
 tunnel has no light, Mr. Thanh can walk without any trip.

Ban đêm, người tuần đường mặc thêm áo phản quang và cầm đèn hiệu thay cho cờ hiệu. Nhiều hôm sương gió, mưa lạnh, buồn chán nhưng họ không được phép lơ là, luôn tập trung và tỉnh táo suốt hành trình.
At night, rail patrollers wear light reflective blouses
and hold flash-lights, instead of flags.
On their way, patrollers have no time to talk to other.
They walk alone on their rail section.
Earning around VND3 million ($150) per month, only love for
 their job and their family’s sympathy can keep them with this job.
When their steps become tired, rail patrollers are shifted to be
rail bridge and tunnel guards. This is also a quiet job
to ensure safety for trains.


VNE