China high-speed rail malfunction caused by plant blast

Passengers are in a stable mood, although train services were halted by an explosion that happened near the rail line in Shandong province Tuesday morning. (Photo by Shi Xiaofeng/chinadaily.com.cn)

Services along the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed rail are back to normal after a factory explosion caused a power outage, authorities said Tuesday.

An explosion occurred around 9:30 a.m. at a concrete additive plant in Jinan City, Shandong Province, which disrupted the power supply to a section of the railway. The power outage resulted in delayed or canceled trains, according to Jinan government sources.

The fire was contained around 9:50 a.m. There have been no reported casualties. Services resumed at noon.

The investigation is ongoing.