BEIJING - China's railway system, after increasing the speeds of trains six times since 1997 and opening more high-speed rail lines in recent years, has hit the brakes.

That reversal of a long-standing trend is meant to give railway officials time to "accumulate safety management experience", according to Railways Minister Sheng Guangzu.

The ministry published a new railway schedule, reflecting the decision to slow down trains, after one bullet train rear-ended another on July 23 in East China, killing 40 passengers and injuring nearly 200 others.