Controversies

Beijing-Shanghai high-speed rail sees 'three stoppages in four days' shortly after opening; Ministry of Railways publicly apologizes

After the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway opened on June 30, 2011, thunderstorms and gales caused a catenary fault on July 10 that delayed 19 trains; a bow-catenary fault on July 12 delayed at least 10 trains; and a train equipment fault on G114 on July 13 delayed it by about 2 hours and 40 minutes. The Ministry of Railways publicly apologized and launched a safety inspection, while the construction party admitted construction defects. Impact and handling: the incidents prompted public doubts about the speed and quality of high-speed rail construction; no public personnel punishment results were seen. In April 2026, another unauthorized drone intrusion caused a fault and delay to G15. Progress: media reports. Entities involved: Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway Co., Ltd. and the former Ministry of Railways. Scope: initial operations of the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway line.