In an effort to curb pollution , China has created remote coal mining areas but the inadequate and inefficient rail infrastructure used to transport the fuel was unable to cope with recent heavy snow storms . Even as the snow let up , the railways remained overcrowded and the state railway authorities had to impose emergency measures to increase deliveries to power producers in the region . Freight railways have also had to carry more cargo since the government began to require factories to use railways to transport goods rather than roads . Furthermore , freight tracks have suffered recent underinvestment in favour of passenger lines .
In an effort to curb pollution, China has created remote coal mining hubs but the inadequate and inefficient rail infrastructure used to transport the fuel was unable to cope with recent heavy snow storms. Even as the snow let up, the railways remained overcrowded and the state railway operator had to impose emergency measures to increase deliveries to power producers in the south. Freight railways have also had to handle more cargo since the government began to require factories to use railways to transport goods rather than roads. Furthermore, freight tracks have suffered recent underinvestment in favour of passenger lines.