China plans this week to cut service on its proud Beijing-Shanghai high-speed rail link by a quarter as a manufacturer recalls its trains to test them, the latest setback for a problem-plagued rail system.

　　随着中国北车召回生产的部分列车进行检测，中国计划本周起将引以为豪的京沪高铁的列车开行数量减少四分之一。这是问题重重的铁路系统遇到的最新挫折。

　　The recall of 54 CRH380BL rail cars, China's version of the bullet train, will cut high-speed rail service between the country's capital and the eastern industrial metropolis this week, official said.

　　7·23动车追尾事故发生后，中国政府开始重新考虑其铁路政策，与此同时，中国北车召回54列动车组。官方说，54列CRH380BL动车组的召回将使本周首都北京和东部工业化都市上海之间的高铁车次减少。

　　Less than two months since the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed rail system was inaugurated, service will be cut to 66 trains per day from over 88 now starting Aug. 16, according to newly published timetables. Scaling back of the vaunted service is the latest backtrack by the Ministry of Railways from its high-speed system since a deadly accident on the rails outside Wenzhou last month.

　　根据最新发布的时刻表，从8月16起，京沪高铁每天开行的列车数量将由每天88对以上减少至66对。此时距离京沪高铁开通还不到两个月。京沪高铁一直受到大肆吹捧，此次削减列车开行数量是自上个月温州发生严重铁路事故以来铁道部在对待高速铁路系统态度上的最新转变。

　　The recall, announced Friday by Beijing-based CNR Corp., follows the manufacturer's plans to delay a delivery valued around $1 billion of 17 additional CRH380BL trains to double-check their safety systems. The company hasn't indicated how long the checks might take.

　　中国北车于上周五宣布了召回决定，此前还计划推迟交运价值约10亿美元的另17列CRH380BL动车组，以复查安全系统。中国北车未说明检查可能需要多长时间。

　　The CRH380BL wasn't involved in the July 23 collision near Wenzhou, but the recall reflects stepped attention by the government to safety that has also prompted the Ministry of Railways to pledge slower speeds, reduced ticket prices and new safety checks for rail lines. China's rail-equipment makers have seen shares fall and delayed fund-raising plans.

　　温州7•23事故并未涉及CRH380BL动车组，但其被召回表明政府对安全问题更加关注，政府的关注还促使铁道部誓言减速、降低票价并对铁路进行新的安全检查。中国铁路设备制造商股价已经下跌并推迟了融资计划。

　　Even before the Wenzhou accident, popularity of the line that could cut travel time to five hours between the two cities has been a question mark as travelers griped about ticket prices and glitches. Analysts say it is clear airlines are benefiting on the busy route.

　　即使是在温州事故之前，京沪高铁的受欢迎程度就一直受到质疑，旅客对票价和故障多有怨言。京沪高铁将上海和北京之间的的旅行时间缩减至五小时。分析师说航空公司显然正从繁忙的线路中受益。

　　A CNR spokesman, Tan Xiaofeng, told state media over the weekend that among the systems that will be tested are sensors supplied by an unnamed foreign company that could cause the trains to stop. The CRH380BL, China's most advanced rail cars, is also used on a rail link between Shanghai and Nanjing.

　　中国北车发言人谭晓峰上周末对国有媒体说，进行检测的设备包括一家外国公司生产的感应器，这种感应器可能是导致列车停车的原因。谭晓峰没有给出这家外国公司的名字。CRH380BL动车组是中国最先进的列车，上海和南京线路也用的是这种车。

　　In a rare bit of supportive news for the Ministry of Railways, Chinese ratings agency Dagong Global Credit Rating Co., over the weekend defended its top, triple-A assessment of debt issued by the Ministry of Railways. It told the news agency Xinhua the ministry still enjoys strong government support.

　　中国评级机构大公国际资信评估有限公司上周末对铁道部发行的最高AAA级债券评级进行了辩护，这是对铁道部罕见的一个利好消息。大公对新华社说，铁道部依然享有政府的强有力支持。

　　Last week, after Standard & Poor's Corp. reduced its outlook for U.S. long-term debt securities, Dagong also downgraded its U.S. sovereign rating to single-A from single-A-plus.

　　上周，标准普尔公司（Standard & Poor's Corp.）下调美国长期国债评级展望后，大公也将美国主权债务评级从A+下调至A级。