Full speed ahead for China's railways
Source: Xinhua |
March 10, 2012, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
The construction of China's high-speed railways was not suspended en masse and the country's achievements in high-speed rail transport should not be overlooked despite some high-profile mistakes, a senior railway official said yesterday.
The development of key rail projects will be guaranteed and will continue, said Wu Qiang, director of the Ministry of Railways' transport unit.
Media reports previously said that, according to a survey last August, 70 percent of 23 railway projects, most of them high-speed, had been stopped, partly stopped or were progressing slowly following the July train crash in Wenzhou that killed 40 people.
"Investment in railways will total 500 billion yuan (US$79.37 billion) this year, and the money used for railways under construction is assured," Wu, a deputy to the National People's Congress, said during this year's parliamentary session.
Wu said the outlook for China's high-speed railways was promising. In 2011, a total of 440 million passengers used the country's 18 high-speed lines, almost double the number in 2010, he said.
The average occupancy rate of high-speed trains was 60 percent, rising to 80 percent during peak holiday times, Wu added.
"Generally speaking, high-speed railways are worth developing as a more environment-friendly and more efficient industry," he said.
"However, we need to continuously adjust and improve their development to make them more scientific and sustainable, because China's high-speed network is growing very fast."
The construction of high-speed lines suffered a major setback last year when two bullet trains collided in east China's Zhejiang Province, leaving 40 passengers dead and 172 others injured.
Sporadic breakdowns following the incident compounded widespread worries over safety.
Wu said China's high-speed rail technology was maturing, with a lot of expertise accumulating in regard to lines, traction and power supply.
"The overall development of China's high-speed railways should not be denied because of some mistakes," Wu said.
He also said the ministry was developing a new online ticketing system, expected to be in operation by next year's Spring Festival.
During this year's Spring Festival, the current online system frequently crashed or was inaccessible, but Wu said its replacement will be more efficient, reliable and user-friendly. It will also allow more payment methods.
The development of key rail projects will be guaranteed and will continue, said Wu Qiang, director of the Ministry of Railways' transport unit.
Media reports previously said that, according to a survey last August, 70 percent of 23 railway projects, most of them high-speed, had been stopped, partly stopped or were progressing slowly following the July train crash in Wenzhou that killed 40 people.
"Investment in railways will total 500 billion yuan (US$79.37 billion) this year, and the money used for railways under construction is assured," Wu, a deputy to the National People's Congress, said during this year's parliamentary session.
Wu said the outlook for China's high-speed railways was promising. In 2011, a total of 440 million passengers used the country's 18 high-speed lines, almost double the number in 2010, he said.
The average occupancy rate of high-speed trains was 60 percent, rising to 80 percent during peak holiday times, Wu added.
"Generally speaking, high-speed railways are worth developing as a more environment-friendly and more efficient industry," he said.
"However, we need to continuously adjust and improve their development to make them more scientific and sustainable, because China's high-speed network is growing very fast."
The construction of high-speed lines suffered a major setback last year when two bullet trains collided in east China's Zhejiang Province, leaving 40 passengers dead and 172 others injured.
Sporadic breakdowns following the incident compounded widespread worries over safety.
Wu said China's high-speed rail technology was maturing, with a lot of expertise accumulating in regard to lines, traction and power supply.
"The overall development of China's high-speed railways should not be denied because of some mistakes," Wu said.
He also said the ministry was developing a new online ticketing system, expected to be in operation by next year's Spring Festival.
During this year's Spring Festival, the current online system frequently crashed or was inaccessible, but Wu said its replacement will be more efficient, reliable and user-friendly. It will also allow more payment methods.
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