Shanghai subways halted for safety checks

The operator of the Shanghai subway system has suspended some services in order to conduct safety checks a day after a collision injured more than 270 people.

A train rear-ended another on Shanghai's Number 10 subway line on Tuesday. The operator allowed services to resume only about 4 hours after the accident.

But in an about-face, it decided to halt services in some sections, including the crash site, first thing Wednesday morning.

The operator said it wants to put safety first and will re-inspect all related facilities.

It said the decision was reached in line with demands by a team of expert investigators.

The Shanghai subway line uses a signal system made by the same company implicated in the fatal high-speed railway crash in July. Forty people died in that accident.

In addition, a system failure on the same subway line in late July caused a train to suddenly start moving in the opposite direction.

The people of Shanghai are voicing concerns over repeated problems with the railway systems.

One subway user says Tuesday's accident could have been avoided if proper safety management was in place.

Another said it's worrying to know that the subway line and the high-speed railway line use the same signal system.