China plans to accelerate the implementation of safety measures as the speed limit on many railways will be going up next month, Minister of Railways Liu Zhijun has said.

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Liu called for improvements to technical standards, equipment and the skills of railway workers before the country raises the speed of most trains from 160 kilometers per hour to 200 on April 18.

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"It's a whole new challenge to the quality of equipment and personnel as well as the environment and organization of transport," said Liu.

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It will be the sixth time China has raised speed limits of trains since 1997, when most were running at a mere 60 kilometers per hour.

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"This upgrade is different from the previous ones. It's a leap in essence," said Liu. "Safety problems with any link in the process can lead to losses."

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Friday's China Securities Journal quoted an unidentified expert as saying a speed of 200 kilometers per hour demands a much higher safety standard and hence more work in upgrading trains and tracks.

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Railway safety has drawn the public's attention after hurricane-force winds derailed 11 carriages of a train in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on February 28, killing three and injuring 34.

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Experts with the ministry have said trains running at a high speed are more likely to be overturned by strong winds.

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The ministry has asked a research center to develop a strong-wind warning system.

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The coming speed boost will increase the railway system's passenger handling capacity by 18 percent, and its cargo capacity by 12 percent, according to the ministry. ?

 

(Xinhua News Agency March 17, 2007)