CHINA: Rail network resumes, despite experts blaming its rapid development for the deadly train crash that killed at least 38 people

Record ID: 382002

  • Title: CHINA: Rail network resumes, despite experts blaming its rapid development for the deadly train crash that killed at least 38 people
  • Date: 26th July 2011
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) REN XIANFANG, SENIOR ANALYST AT INFORMATION HANDLING SERVICES GLOBAL INSIGHT, SAYING: "Starting from 2008, China's high speed rail has been developing very rapidly. Under these circumstances, some of the software infrastructure weren't up to speed with the development, and this gap could have caused the accident we are facing today." WENZHOU, ZHEJIANG PROVINCE, CHINA (JULY 25, 2011) (REUTERS) PEOPLE WALKING OUTSIDE HOSPITAL (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) BUSINESSMAN GE YONGGUANG, SAYING: "I don't think it will affect my decision. Although an accident happened on the high-speed rail, but comparatively it had few accidents. Cars and planes also have accidents." BUSINESSWOMAN ZHANG QINGFEI WALKING IN STREET (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) BUSINESSWOMAN ZHANG QINGFEI, SAYING: "At the moment I wouldn't dare get on that train. It goes so fast - something like 370 kilometres per hour - I wouldn't dare. Didn't it only open last year, and it's already having problems? I would definitely be scared." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING OUT OF HOSPITAL GATE
  • Embargoed: 10th August 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China, China
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Disasters,Transport
  • Reuters ID: LVA5TVMKWUOMKOKVIHZPYDHJ51XY
  • Story Text: China's rail network resumed on Monday (July 25), after a deadly train crash killed at least 38 people and wounded 210 in eastern China on Saturday (July 23).
    However, experts blamed the railway's rapid development for the collision in Wenzhou city of eastern Zhejiang province.
    The Chinese government sacked three senior railway officials on Sunday (July 24).
    Authorities also sealed off the road leading to the site of the accident and turned away pedestrians and journalists who tried to enter the area.
    China had been, for years, trying to develop a high-speed rail network to rival Japan's famed bullet trains.
    However, Ren Xianfang, a senior analyst at IHS (Information Handling Services) Global Insight, said China's rapid expansion of its rail network was to blame for the tragedy.
    "Starting from 2008, China's high speed rail has been developing very rapidly. Under these circumstances, some of the software infrastructure weren't up to speed with the development, and this gap could have caused the accident we are facing today," she said.
    China's railway infrastructure has been experiencing a boom in recent years.
    Under Beijing's current five-year plan whichin 2015, the country will invest between 3.6 trillion and 4 trillion yuan ($540-607 billion USD) in its rail sector.
    Rail is the most popular mode of long-distance transport in China and trains are usually crowded with as many as 1,000 passengers.
    Some residents of Wenzhou in Zhejiang province, said the deadly crash would have no bearing on their decision to take the train.
    "I don't think it will affect my decision. Although an accident happened on the high-speed rail, but comparatively it had few accidents. Cars and planes also have accidents," said businessman Ge Yongguang.
    Others, however, said the collision had made them more wary.
    "At the moment I wouldn't dare get on that train. It goes so fast - something like 370 kilometres an hour - I wouldn't dare. Didn't it only open last year, and it's already having problems? I would definitely be scared," said businesswoman Zhang Qingfei.
    The reliability of China's rail network was also called into question recently when the flagship Beijing-Shanghai high-speed line suffered a series of power outages soon after its opening a month ago.
    It has also been hit by a series of scandals.
    Local media said three railway officials have been investigated for corruption this year.
    Share prices of Chinese rail companies on Monday dipped by as much as 16 percent.
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