“China will unswervingly continue its development of high-speed railways”, announced China’s State Council after news quickly spread Friday of the latest upset in the country’s ongoing troubles over its prestigious high speed train network.
54 of the bullet trains that operate on the Beijing-Shanghai high speed line, that also stop at our very own newly opened Nanjing South Railway Station, have been recalled by train manufacturer China North Locomotive and Rolling Stock Ltd.
The recall comes in the wake of last month’s crash near Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, that killed 40 people resulting in ongoing public outcry. Problems have persisted elsewhere with spokesman Tan Xiaofeng claiming that the Beijing-Shanghai line had suffered “frequent quality problems” due to components from American, European and domestic suppliers.
As part of efforts to quell a restless and concerned public, in recent days the authorities have also imposed a moratorium on new rail projects and ordered reductions in speed across the high speed network. In addition to the recall, production has been halted of the CRH380BL that operates between China’s two principal cities.
However, as is often the case when China faces a national tragedy, the only truly viable public policy remains the official government line. Tan added, “When problems occur, we don’t wish to hide them,” he said. “We put life before everything else.”
