China's railway industry has had a tough year, highlighted by a collision between two high-speed trains in July which killed at least 40 people. Construction of new high-speed trains in China has since been a near halt.In February, the railways minister, Liu Zhijun, a key figure behind the boom in the sector, was dismissed over corruption charges that have not yet been tried in court.
And the multi-billion-pound plan has provoked complaints that it is too expensive for a country where millions of people still live in poverty. The government announced in April the top speed of the fastest lines would be reduced and ticket prices would be cut.
Critics also claim that railway officials have diverted too much money to high-speed rail and should be expanding lower-cost traditional rail.
The Ministry of Railways claims it has made extensive preparations for safety and security on the trains. They include plans for daily inspections of tracks and other facilities and an earthquake monitoring system.
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