In late 2016, David was asked to be a member of a group of language experts promoting the standardised use of English in the service industry in the run-up to the Beijing 2022 Winter Games. Having happily accepted it, his first trains-related public talk was just a few years away. In mid-2018, the Beijing Subway asked David to present to them frequently English training sessions, something which became fully formalised and institutionalised starting from late 2019 and, continued even through the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Beijing Subway is one of the busiest and longest urban rail networks in the world. Its nearly 30 lines run across parts of the city both familiar and obscure to visitors and expats alike. David took on the challenge and devised a new subway standard for the use of English in the network. He also had a major influence on the English-language naming of a number of key stations in the Chinese capital, as well as simplifying and streamlining onboard announcements.
Today, the efforts continue, this time come on a nationwide scale, with the publication of Everyday Metro English books expected in mid to late 2022.