China crash mars exemplary HSR safety record

摘要

The collision of two high speed trains near Wenzhou, China, July 23 has triggered skepticism, both domestically and internationally, of China's expertise to implement its HSR plans, in part because HSR for decades has operated nearly flawlessly in Europe and in Japan. At least 43 were killed, and more than 200 seriously injured, when one HSR train reportedly lost power, attributed by Chinese Ministry of Railway officials to a lightning strike, which then disabled safety devices. The first train was then hit by a second HSR consist following the first train. The incident occurred roughly 860 miles south of Beijing.