SHANGHAI, Aug 12: More than 50 bullet trains on a new fast link between Beijing and Shanghai will be recalled because of “flaws”, their manufacturer said on Friday, in a fresh blow for China's high-speed rail industry.

The move to pull 54 trains from the flagship line came a day after Beijing said it was suspending approval of new rail projects and cutting speeds on newly-laid track after a deadly collision of two high-speed trains last month.

The state-owned company said the recall would allow it to analyse problems that have plagued train services on the new line, which was built at a cost of $33 billion and only opened on June 30.

“China CNR Corp... is recalling 54 CRH380BL bullet trains produced by our subsidiaries that are already in operation to systematically analyse causes of flaws,” the firm said in a statement filed with the Shanghai stock exchange.

The recall would allow it to “conduct an overhaul to ensure their quality and safety,” said the statement.

It will affect around a quarter of services on the new line, which has suffered a series of delays and power cuts since its launch.—AFP