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Summary China has suspended all new railway construction projects, the government said.
The decision comes nearly three weeks after a fatal crash that sparked fears over the safety of high-speed rail network. The government said it had also cut the speed of trains running on newly built high-speed rail lines and will conduct safety checks on all existing high-speed links as well as those under construction. We will suspend for the time being the examination and approval of new railway construction projects, said a statement issued by the State Council, or cabinet, late Wednesday.The government will also thoroughly study the projects that have already been submitted to it for approval, it added.Developing the worlds largest high-speed rail network has been a key political goal for Beijing, but the death of 40 people in a collision of two high-speed trains on July 23 provoked outrage and forced it to rethink.The crash -- Chinas worst rail accident since 2008 -- triggered a flood of criticism of the railways ministry and accusations that the government had compromised safety in its rush to develop.
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