Beijing ( CNN ) -- China 's second-largest train manufacturer will recall 54 bullet trains running on the new Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway after a series of malfunctions , a company official said Friday . The state-owned CNR Corporation earlier this week suspended deliveries of the same model for safety reasons . `` All decisions are based on safety and we are trying to be responsible , '' said Tan Xiaofeng , a company spokesman . The news came on the heels of a Chinese government announcement to slow down bullet trains nationwide and halt approval for new construction , amid increasing public scrutiny on the country 's railway safety following a crash last month that killed at least 40 people . Premier Wen Jiabao this week also ordered railway authorities , who had planned to invest over $ 400 billion into new projects in the next five years , to conduct thorough safety inspections on all high-speed rail lines both in operation and under construction , state-run Xinhua news agency reported . `` Right now we are checking and eliminating all potential safety vulnerabilities , '' railway minister Sheng Guangzu said in Thursday 's edition of the People 's Rail newspaper . `` Down the road we want to strengthen our management to ensure rail operations be safe , sustainable and stable . '' Sheng said bullet trains would run 40 to 50 kilometers below their top design speed , which currently stands at 350 kilometers per hour ( 217 mph ) for the fastest model , and ticket prices would be reduced accordingly . The actions were prompted by the government after a stalled bullet train was struck from behind by another train on July 23 near Wenzhou in eastern Zhejiang province , causing one of China 's deadliest rail accidents in recent years . Railway officials later blamed design flaws in the rail signal equipment as the culprit . Many in the public remain skeptical of the finding , still fuming over reports that the railway ministry ended its search-and-rescue effort less than six hours after the collision , and moved to crush and bury one of the six derailed cars when the investigation had barely started . Although railway authorities have denied such allegations , a panel consisted of high-ranking government officials -- none from the railway ministry -- and academic experts has taken over the investigation and is expected to produce its report in September . Reactions were mixed to the government decision to decelerate the country 's trains . `` This is a rational policy to correct the 'great leap forward ' strategy of our high-speed railway development , '' Professor Zhao Jian , a transportation expert with Beijing Jiaotong University , told CNN . `` It should have been done earlier -- but this is a good start . '' Zhao , a long-time critic of China 's high-speed rail plans , said slower trains would improve safety and cut operational cost , benefiting both operators and passengers . But others compare the new measure to `` stopping eating after choking on food . '' `` The problem is obviously with management , but they simply decided to reduce the speed , '' a user named `` usinner '' wrote on Shanghai Metrofans , a popular railway internet forum . `` If they do n't address the real problem , trains are still going to crash even when running below 100 kilometers per hour . '' Now the world 's second-largest economy , and flush with cash , China has built the world 's longest high-speed rail network -- boasting more than 8,300 kilometers ( 5,100 miles ) of routes -- in a few short years . Officials have portrayed the development of high-speed rail as a symbol of the country 's growing prowess and also want to export Chinese technologies to markets that include the United States . The massive investment and rapid construction have long raised public doubts on the new lines ' safety and commercial viability . The skeptics ' voices became louder after the former railway minister -- a champion of high-speed rail -- was sacked for corruption early this year . Even the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed rail -- the ministry 's newest and proudest project -- has broken down several times since its much-touted launch less than two months ago . `` It 's not the faster , the better , '' Sun Zhang , a railway professor at Tongji University in Shanghai -- and now a member of the investigative panel on the deadly crash -- told CNN in June . `` We have to take safety , economics and environmental impact into consideration . '' Eager to reassure skeptics home and abroad , Chinese leaders have said the government would learn its lessons from the fatal bullet train collision -- even it means to swallow national pride for now . `` If safety is compromised , there is no credibility to speak of , '' Premier Wen said during a visit to the crash site on July 28 . `` It is important that we integrate our effort in pursuing speed , quality , efficiency and safety with the understanding that safety always comes first . ''
The recall involves 54 bullet trains made by the state-owned CNR Corporation . There is extra public scrutiny after a crash last month killed at least 40 people . TL;DR A train carrying passengers derailed in northern France on Tuesday, killing more than 100 people. Premier Wen Jiabao is ordering safety inspections on high-speed lines .