Beijing-Shanghai railway speed claim faked

China's Railway Ministry exaggerated the speed that a showcase rail link between Beijing and Shanghai is capable of operating at, a report said on Wednesday, citing a retired top engineer. -- PHOTO: AP

SHANGHAI - CHINA'S Railway Ministry exaggerated the speed that a showcase rail link between Beijing and Shanghai is capable of operating at, a report said on Wednesday, citing a retired top engineer.

Zhou Yimin, a deputy chief engineer at the ministry, told the financial magazine Caijing that the trains' maximum operating speed should be 300kph rather than the originally targeted 350kph.

Railways Minister Liu Zhijun, who was dismissed this spring amid an investigation into unspecified alleged corruption charges, insisted on claiming the world's best technology for all aspects of the showcase high-speed rail program, Mr Zhou told Caijing.

Mr Liu demanded higher speeds for the 215 billion yuan (S$40 billion) Beijing-Shanghai railway to 380kph despite knowing that the contracts for the foreign-designed cars being used called for a maximum of 300kph, he said.

'What he wanted was buying a train with a top speed designed at 300kph but make it run at a speed of 350kph,' Mr Zhou said.

Mr Liu was the public face of the high-speed rail program. No details have been released about the allegations against him, but news reports say accusations include kickbacks, bribes, illegal contracts and sexual liaisons. -- AP