China train crash: Signal design flaw blamed

[DSY011]

Serious flaws in a signalling system caused a fatal collision on China's high-speed rail network, officials say.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-14321060

[Dave Rowland]

Unfortunately, China seems to be following Britain's example of rushing headlong into Modernisation (albeit 50 years later); steam has only finished on the China Rail system within the past few years, and I suspect that, in their rush to now be seen as a technologically advanced country, not enough time has been spent sorting out potential flaws in the system before running superfast trains. A reliable signalling system should be proved to be working perfectly BEFORE the public is permitted to travel on what largely appears to be a Beta version of a high speed railway. Safety must be the number one priority.
More haste, less speed?

[Belmont Road]

Interesting to see that the government want to "severely punish" those responsible. Sounds like the Quintinshill crash attitude all over again.

Railway accidents are complex and often involve many factors, failures both human and mechanical. Seems despite their huge advances the Chinese have something to learn from the West perhaps? - the need to analyse objectively the cause of such events.