State media questioned whether lapses led to Tuesday's accident.

Airport news for Travel,Insurance on 29/09/2011.

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State-run media organisations have launched a barrage of attacks over a subway crash in Shanghai two days ago that left 284 people with injuries. A number of media outlets were asking if operational lapses on the city's underground train network were to blame for the accident.

The crash took place after a failure of the Shanghai subway system's signalling equipment left staff having to direct trains via telephones. One outlet urged the country to be more careful and said China needs to focus on eliminating the risks.

The accident in Shanghai comes just months after a crash on one of China's new high-speed rail networks. That accident, near the city of Wenzhou, left 40 people dead.

The Wenzhou crash led to a wave of complaints, including criticism from some of the country's state-owned media outlets. Pressure has been mounting on government officials, who have been criticised for being too eager to implement a vast programme of development.

The crash in Shanghai occurred on Tuesday around 2.51pm local time. Rail group Shanghai Shento Metro said the crash was preceded by a failure of the signal system at a station on Line 10.

As a result of the failed signal equipment, subway staff resorted to directing trains using phones. Shento Metro added that the trains were at slower speeds than usual.

The train involved in the accident had stopped. When it started moving again, it ran into the back of another train.

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