The Chinese aviation system is currently very safe, simply based on its records in the past 15 years. But that didn't just happen - it followed a lengthy period in the early 80's that saw many fatal accidents. I hope their high-speed rail system doesn't have to go through the same carnage before becoming as safe as others in the world.

I, at this time, and not going to be pointing fingers; but instead giving my thoughts and prayers to the victims.

But if it wasn't on a 50ft bridge you may have more track incursions.

As of now:

Maintenance workers spend four hours checking the tracks ever night.

Two passenger free trains travel the line every morning to conduct
safety checks.

2.85 M high fence all along the railways prevent people and large animals
from getting on the tracks.

Guards are stationed every 1KM on the tracks to look for safety hazards.

Human Error:

Signaling system CTCS-2 was damaged/destoyed by lightning strikes.

Trains dispatchers disabled the Automatic Train Protection, due to pressure
from recent delays on the BJ-SH line.

Authorities order the wreckage to be buried "to prevent loss of
proprietary technology".



2011年7月23日20:31分，杭深线永嘉至温州南区间下行线K583+00处发生D301次与前行D 3115次追尾事故，造成D3115次第15、16位脱轨，D301次第1至4位脱轨（其中1至2位坠落桥 下）。
　　一、调度作业过程
　　2011年7月23日19:34分，温州南反映D3212次4道开车时跳出站信号，调度询问司机有没有 动车，在确定司机没有动车后取消进路重新开放信号。
　　19:36分，因温州南站4道出站信号无法开放，调度布置温州南站转为非常站控。
　　19:44分，调度接温州南站报告：车站联锁显示下行三接近红光带，车站CTC界面无显示。D3212 次4道开车后，调度布置车站转回分散自律。
　　19:45分，温州南站报告与永嘉、瓯海站接近、离去区段显示红光带。
　　19:53分，调度布置温州南站转入非常站控，19:55分布置瓯海转入非常站控。
　　20:01分、20:07分调度联系温州南站工务到位没有，车站汇报未到位。
　　20:14分，调度布置D3115次永嘉站开车，通知司机区间遇红灯后转目视模式20km/h运行。
　　20:20分，温州南站反映下行四接近红光带闪烁，与瓯海区间无红光带。
　　20:24分，D301次永嘉站开车。
　　20:26分，调度联系温州南站，车站反映D3115次已三接近，CTC系统区间红光带已 消失。
　　20:31分，D3115次司机反映：车厢内旅客按紧急制动停车，接触网停电。
　　20:37分，调度布置温州南站联系D301次司机降弓。
　　20:39分，调度接温州南站报告：D3115次司机反映尾部车辆脱轨，有半截车厢吊在桥 上。
　　二、车站作业过程
　　（一）列车运行情况：
　　1. 永嘉站：D3115次3道19：51到（办客），20：15开；
　　D301次Ⅰ道20：12停，20：24开。
　　2. 温州南：D3212次19：36开。
　　（二）运统－46登销记情况：
　　1. 永嘉站：无登记。
　　2. 温州南站：19：39分登记永嘉－温州南下行线三接近轨道电路出现红光带并通知工、电务，工务于20：30 分销记，电务未销记。
　　（三）车站转入非常站控有关情况
　　19：54分左右永嘉站接调度通知模式需转为非常站控，永嘉站于19：55分转入非常站控 。
　　20：12分调度员通知永嘉站D3115次开车，永嘉站20：13分与温州南站办理D3115次预告， D3115次20：15开。
　　20：22分调度员通知永嘉站D301次开车，永嘉站20：24分与温州南站办理D301次预告，D3 01次20：24开。
　　因D3115次区间运行时间长，温州南站联系D3115次司机，司机回答区间信号不稳定；
　 　据永嘉车站值班员、温州南站车站值班员反映：20:06分，永嘉车站值班员车机联控呼叫D301次司机， “车站已转非常站控”；在D301次距 D3115次6—7个闭塞分区时，温州南站车站值班员车机联控呼叫D301次司机，“ D3115次在区间，注意运行。” D301次司机应答知道。
　 　【简】7月23日19：39上海局杭深线永嘉-温州南间下行线温州南3接近因雷击造成红光带，通知工务、电务人员，19：54永嘉站转为非常 站 控，19：55温州南站转为非常站控，工务20：30销记，D3115次（杭州－福州南）在永嘉站19：5 1停，20：15开，D301次（北京南－福 州）永嘉20：12停，20：24开，D3115次在温州南3接近信号处20：23/25停车，以目视模式开车，20时39分D301次与D3115次在 永嘉（K570+680）-温州南（K588+863）间K585+700附近发生追尾，造成D3115次13、14、15、16位脱 线，D301次 1－4位脱线（其中1、2位高架桥上掉下，桥深约15米

That's my thought, also. Things will happen that cause trains to stop. It's inevitable. If it was a lightning strike I suspect the system lost contact with train #1 and the system wasn't designed to fail safe in such a situation.

Edit: I hadn't read anacapamalibu's post when I wrote this. Why am I not surprised they had it but didn't use it?

Similar to if your electrical breaker trips. Just bypass it and wire directly to the power source.
Lethal consequences.

3 latest developments
 

It's been confirmed that the 2 foreigners killed were US citizens.

Seems that rail and govt officials are now eager to play up the "foreign technology" of the system rather than their previous trumpeting of the "great Chinese rail invention and achievement." Coming soon: official blame of foreign technology and companies a la recent Otis-bashing on escalator failure.

Chinese officialdom is trying to muzzle media reports of the crash. No surprises here. Apparently the "rescue effort" and body recovery wasn't particularly thorough or humane before rail officials started tossing the derailed carriages around with people still inside. I can't fault the Chinese citizenry for being incensed.

The reports I saw about the recovery efforts being compromised appeared
to be misleading. Leaving deceased in the cars, smashing then burying
them in public view seems beyond all belief.

[QUOTE=jiejie;16794253]It's been confirmed that the 2 foreigners killed were US citizens.
QUOTE]

I suppose the positive ID for ticket rule has its benefits in the event of
an accident.

is this a photo of the coverup
 

[QUOTE=anacapamalibu;16793715]Human Error:

Signaling system CTCS-2 was damaged/destoyed by lightning strikes.

Trains dispatchers disabled the Automatic Train Protection, due to pressure
from recent delays on the BJ-SH line.

Authorities order the wreckage to be buried "to prevent loss of
proprietary technology".



Article and photo on WSJ.com:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...Tabs%3Darticle

Does this photo show the Chinese trying to bury and hide the evidence? Someone who can read Chinese and accounts of this should post in response on the WSJ web site.

There's actually a video of this that's been making its way around on 微博; you can see a a body falling out of a car as it is pulled down by workers, and other bodies being buried.

http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMjg4MTM2MTQ4.html (not sure how long this will stay online...)

Unfortunately, not beyond all belief.

Oh, this is sickening news to turn off ATP.

It is reported that China developed its own ATP technology instead of using foreign technology version from Japan /Europe.... it seems wreckage buried was to prevent inspection of failure of China-ATP technology or revealing human error chain-of-command from top to bottom.

The internet community is up in arms over this decision (unsurprisingly).

Its not uncommon for the US military to destroy and bury their advanced
technology property at a crash site.

Even private business is known to destroy their proprietary technology. i.e.
EV1.

I don't believe the Chinese government would smash rail cars with dead people hanging out of them, when there is a mass of thousands of people
onlooking, all with cellphone cameras.