China fires railway officials for “trash” projects

China has fired at least 10 railway officials over a sub-standard Rmb2.3 billion $360 million construction project that involved bridges filled with trash instead of concrete, and builders without any relevant experience, including one team led by a cook.

The scandal has reignited criticism of China’s railway industry, which has been troubled by safety and management problems. China’s railways ministry dismissed three senior officials after a deadly train crash that killed 35 people in east China’s Wenzhou in July. A month later, the ministry sacked its spokesman, allegedly for giving “inappropriate” answers to the media.

The railways ministry has ordered the partial demolition and reconstruction of two...