Travel Bulletin China: High-speed Train Crash Raises Fears

A signal failure on the high-speed line between Beijing and Shanghai precipitated a rear end collision that has taken 39 lives and exposed the possibility of deeper, wider problems with the highly touted railway. Critics inside China, including the government itself, cite reckless pursuit of economic growth as a factor in the tragedy. China is the first and only country to have trains hit 220 mph on conventional rail lines. Travelers to China should monitor the government response for signs of increased vigilance to ensure safety along the 6,000 miles of high-speed track.