China blames ‘sloppy management’ for bullet train crash

A LONG-AWAITED government report said design flaws and sloppy management caused a bullet train crash in July that killed 40 people and triggered a public outcry over the dangers of China’s showcase transportation system.

A former railway minister was among 54 officials found responsible for the crash, a cabinet statement said. Several were ordered dismissed from Communist Party posts but there was no word of possible criminal penalties. The report was highly anticipated.

The disaster near the southern city of Wenzhou also injured 177 people and had triggered criticism over the high cost and dangers of the bullet train system, a prestige project that once enjoyed lofty status on a level with China’s manned space program.