Chinese Ministry of Railways has strengthened the supervision and organization of railway transportation in order to guarantee stable and safe transportation in flood season, officials said.

The ministry required the railway bureaus at all levels to strictly carry out the measures for safe transportation, as the passenger flow peak and flood peak both pressured on the railway transportation this summer.

Railway stations should timely inform passengers of any delay, explain the reasons, and help passengers to refund or change tickets if they need, the ministry said.

Attention should be paid to maintaining the order at the crowded stations so that no one gets hurt in the hustling of the crowd, the ministry said.

The ministry also urged concerned authorities to keep a close eye on food quality at railway stations and asked for better supervision of the environment at the station and inside the train.

If the railway transportation is interrupted by the flood, officials of the local railway bureau should immediately reach the site to direct the repair work in order to minimize the damages, said the ministry.

(Xinhua News Agency August 7, 2007)