1988 Shanghai–Hangzhou railway collision

Railway accident in Shanghai, China October 2026 Several failed verifications; Pangram scan; see also talk page. 31 16 33 N 121 19 46 E inline,title 24 March 1988, 14:19 Outside Kuangxiang railway station, Fengbang Town, Jiading District, Shanghai, China Shanghai–Hangzhou railway (outer loop section, now part of the Shanghai–Kunming railway) Head-on collision Driver and assistant driver of Train 311 violated operating rules and misread signals 29 99 Train 311 (downbound, Nanjing West → Hangzhou) Train 208 (upbound, Changsha → Shanghai) operated as Z245/248 and Z247/246 1988 Shanghai–Hangzhou railway collision The 1988 Shanghai–Hangzhou railway collision (Japanese: 上海列車事故) was a head-on collision between two passenger trains that occurred at around 14:19 on 24 March 1988 on the Shanghai–Hangzhou railway outer loop line in Fengbang Township嘉定县续志 大事记 Jiading County Continuation Gazetteer: Major Events http://www.shtong.gov.cn/newsite/node2/node4/node2250/node72324/node72328/index.html https://web.archive.org/web/20190227044920/http://www.shtong.gov.cn/newsite/node2/node4/node2250/node72324/node72328/index.html 2019-02-27 2026-03-15 www.shtong.gov.cn zh (now Jiangqiao Town, Jiading District), Jiading District,Chen Maodi 24 September 1988 上海就3月24日铁路事故开庭审理：周晓牛、刘国龙分别被判处六年和三年半有期徒刑。 People's Daily 3 Shanghai hears case on March 24 rail accident: Zhou Xiaoniu and Liu Guolong sentenced to six and three and a half years in prison Shanghai, China. The accident occurred near Kuangxiang railway station, when Train 311, operating from Nanjing West railway station to Hangzhou railway station, passed a scheduled stop after its crew seriously violated operating regulations and misread signals. The train overran a departure signal at danger, damaged a set of points (switches), and entered the main line, where it collided head-on with Train 208, operating from Changsha railway station to Shanghai railway station. The collision resulted in 29 deaths, 20 serious injuries, and 79 minor injuries. Two locomotives were heavily damaged, four passenger carriages were written off, two were severely damaged, and one was moderately damaged. Railway traffic on the Shanghai–Hangzhou railway was suspended for 23 hours and 7 minutes.上海市地方志办公室 Shanghai Railway Gazetteer → Part III: Safety → Chapter 1: Operational Safety → Section 2: Railway Accidents http://www.shtong.gov.cn/Newsite/node2/node2245/node68716/node68723/node68770/node68855/userobject1ai66640.html https://web.archive.org/web/20160427145042/http://www.shtong.gov.cn/Newsite/node2/node2245/node68716/node68723/node68770/node68855/userobject1ai66640.html 2016-04-27 2026-06-15 www.shtong.gov.cn zh Among the passengers on Train 311 was a Japanese school excursion group from Kōchi Prefecture, Japan. The group suffered 28 deaths, 9 serious injuries, and 28 minor injuries,1971年至2008年火车重大事故_新闻中心_新浪网 Major railway accidents (1971–2008) http://news.sina.com.cn/c/2008-05-01/110515462960.shtml?from=wap 2026-04-20 news.sina.com.cn zh making the accident the railway disaster in Chinese history with the highest number of foreign casualties involving a school excursion group.网易 邱建平：检察视听技术的“活化石”_网易新闻 Qiu Jianping: Pioneer of prosecutorial audiovisual technology http://news.163.com/14/1116/08/AB5KD0H900014AED.html https://web.archive.org/web/20180323155808/http://news.163.com/14/1116/08/AB5KD0H900014AED.html 2018-03-23 2026-06-15 news.163.com zh Background Route The accident occurred on the outer loop line of the Shanghai–Hangzhou railway. The line originated from Shanghai railway station and ran westward via Shanghai West railway station along the southern side of the Nanxiang marshalling yard, before connecting to the Fengbang section of the outer loop network. The outer loop alignment formed part of a capacity expansion project designed to bypass heavily congested urban level crossings in Shanghai's inner railway network, which had suffered from severe congestion and limited capacity. The Shanghai–Hangzhou railway is a major railway corridor in eastern China linking Shanghai and Hangzhou and forms part of the broader Shanghai–Kunming railway network. The section passing through Zhenru and Nanxiang was developed to alleviate pressure on the original Shanghai inner loop railway. Construction of the Nanxin loop line began on 2 May 1986 and it was opened on 29 December 1986, at which time Kuangxiang station was also commissioned. On 14 January 1987, 40 passenger services on the Shanghai–Hangzhou route were rerouted from the inner loop line to the outer loop line, and the double-track expansion of the Zhenru–Fengbang section began in 1990.上海市地方志办公室 Shanghai Railway Gazetteer, Part I (Railway Construction), Chapter 3 (Shanghai–Hangzhou Railway), Section 4 (Nanxin Loop Line and Shanghai–Hangzhou Outer Loop Line) http://www.shtong.gov.cn/Newsite/node2/node2245/node68716/node68721/node68756/node68828/userobject1ai66532.html https://web.archive.org/web/20160427144751/http://www.shtong.gov.cn/Newsite/node2/node2245/node68716/node68721/node68756/node68828/userobject1ai66532.html 2016-04-27 2026-06-15 www.shtong.gov.cn zh Accident trains Train 311, involved in the accident, was a passenger service running from Nanjing West railway station to Hangzhou railway station via the Shanghai–Nanjing railway and the Shanghai–Hangzhou railway. The train reversed direction at Shanghai West railway station and was scheduled to depart at 14:07. It was timetabled to enter Kuangxiang station at 14:18, where it was planned to stop for 8 minutes to allow Train 208 to pass.Editorial Committee of "Railway Typical Accident Case Series (Locomotive Volume I) 铁路典型事故案例系列：机车卷 China Railway Publishing House 2016 978-7-113-20141-8 zh Railway Typical Accident Case Series: Locomotive Volume Train 208 was a passenger service operating from Changsha railway station to Shanghai railway station. It was scheduled to depart Fengbang station at 14:13 and to pass through Kuangxiang station at 14:22. School excursion group The passengers on Train 311 included a Japanese school excursion group organised by the Japan Travel Bureau (JTB Corporation),Ding Wei 1988 关于“3月24日”列车相撞事故损害赔偿的法律思考 Fazhi (Law Science), East China University of Political Science and Law zh 10 34–36 1000-4238 Legal Reflections on Compensation for Damages in the "March 24" Train Collision Accident consisting of 179 first-year students from Kochi Gakugei High School, as well as 14 accompanying staff including teachers, a physician, and JTB tour guides. The group, totalling 193 people, departed on the evening of 21 March 1988 from Kochi Port by ferry, arriving the following morning at Port of Osaka. They then travelled by commercial flight from Osaka International Airport (Itami Airport) to Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, before continuing by train from Shanghai railway station to Suzhou railway station. After spending 23 March sightseeing in Suzhou, the group boarded Train 311 on 24 March for travel to Hangzhou railway station, with arrival scheduled for the evening of the same day. Accident Incident On the day of the accident, Train 311 departed on schedule from Nanjing West railway station and later stopped at Suzhou railway station, where three soft-seat coaches were attached at the rear to accommodate a Japanese school excursion group of 193 passengersYang Like Gao Chao 28 March 1988 铁道部副部长罗云光谈“3月24日”事故：初步分析显示列车制动系统失灵；更换机车后，软座车厢被移至车头。 People's Daily 3 zh Vice Minister of Railways Luo Yunguang Discusses the “March 24” Accident: Preliminary Analysis Suggests Train Brake Failure; Soft-seat Coaches Moved to the Front After Locomotive Change from Kochi Gakugei High School travelling to Hangzhou railway station. At 13:40, Train 311 arrived at Zhenru railway station, where it was turned and underwent a locomotive change. At 13:50,2014 致力于轨道交通，保障安全：专访轨道交通制动专家、同济大学轨道交通研究所教授夏银孙 Urban Mass Transit zh 5 18–22 1007-869X Dedicated to Rail Transit and Committed to Safety Assurance: An Interview with Professor Xia Yinsun, Rail Transit Braking Expert and Professor at the Institute of Rail Transit, Tongji University the original locomotive was replaced by ND2 class diesel locomotive No. 0190 from Hangzhou Locomotive Depot, operated by driver Zhou Xiaoniu and assistant driver Liu Guolong. The three attached coaches became vehicles 1–3 behind the locomotive. At 14:07, Train 311 departed Zhenru station on schedule. It was required to stop for 8 minutes at Kuangxiang station to allow Train 208,17 November 2017 New evidence suggests fault on both sides; authorities reopen investigation into the Shanghai train accident ja:上海列車事故 双方に過失　新事実、当局が再調査 The Mainichi Japanese operating from Changsha railway station to Shanghai railway station, to pass.At the time, the distant signal at Kuangxiang station displayed green, and the home signal displayed double yellow. However, the locomotive crew failed to conduct a proper brake test before entering the station, did not respond to safety call-and-response procedures, and had the radio communication system switched off. No braking action was taken upon passing the station entrance signals. A station assistant on duty, observing the high speed and lack of braking, immediately displayed a red flag stop signal. The station dispatcher also attempted to contact both Train 311 and Train 208 via radio to initiate emergency braking, but Train 311 could not receive instructions due to the switched-off communication system. After noticing the stop signal, the conductor applied the emergency brake, but the train continued at approximately 45 km/h. The locomotive crew only applied emergency braking upon noticing a red exit signal, but braking distance was insufficient. Train 311 overran the signal, broke through a set of points, and entered the main line. At 14:19, Train 311 collided head-on with Train 208.Tong Chanfu 1988 Why I Missed the Scoop: Recollections of Reporting "An Eyewitness Account of the March 24 Shanghai Train Collision" zh:我为什么没顾上抢头条——忆《“3.24”上海列车相撞目击记》的采访 News and Writing zh Beijing Daily Newspaper Group 10 6–7 1002-2295 Following the impact, the baggage car of Train 208 was thrown onto its locomotive ND2 No. 0272. The second soft-seat coach of Train 311 was severely compressed, with its rear portion forced under the first soft-seat coach.28 March 1988 Chen Junsheng and Others Visit Relatives of Japanese Casualties, Inspect Accident Site and Hear Preliminary Investigation Report zh:陈俊生等看望日本伤亡者亲属 察看事故现场并听取初步调查情况汇报 People's Daily 1 zh28 March 1988 Sleepless Night in Shanghai: Aftermath of the “March 24” Major Train Collision zh:上海的不眠之夜——“3·24”重大列车事故善后纪实 People's Daily 3 zhHua Tianfang Zheng Shengye Yao Jiang 1991 Emergency Treatment of Injured Victims in the Shanghai Train Collision Accident zh:上海列车事故中伤员的急救 Chinese Journal of Critical Care Medicine zh Chinese Medical Doctor Association; Heilongjiang Institute of Science and Technology Information 1 53–56 1002-1949 Apart from the baggage car of Train 208 and two soft-seat coaches of Train 311, the second vehicle behind the locomotive of Train 208, a hard sleeper coach, was destroyed. In total, two additional passenger coaches were severely damaged and one was moderately damaged. Approximately 50 metres of track were damaged, including 46 sleepers and one switch rail, resulting in the suspension of mainline operations for 23 hours and 7 minutes. Casualties As of 25 March, a total of 28 people were confirmed killed in the accident,Guo Junzheng Yang Like 26 March 1988 Death Toll in Shanghai “March 24” Accident Rises to 28; Ministry of Railways Arranges Rescue of Injured and Aftermath Work, Urges Railway Workers Nationwide to Draw Lessons for Transport Safety zh:上海“三·二四”事故中死亡人数已有二十八人 铁道部布置抢救伤员和善后工作 要求全路职工吸取血的教训确保安全运输 People's Daily 4 zh including 27 passengers from Train 311 and one railway employee, Jiang Yicheng, a train inspector from the China Railway Guangzhou GroupLu wei Lu Guoyuan 3 April 1988 All Injured Japanese Students from the “March 24” Accident Return to Japan; Sixteen Chinese Passengers Still Under Treatment People's Daily 3 zh上海列車事故 ２９年後の真実：第１章＜５＞ 「腰が痛くなると、事故を思い出す」 The Truth About the Shanghai Train Accident, 29 Years Later: Chapter 1 (5) — ‘When My Back Hurts, I Remember the Accident https://mainichi.jp/articles/20171117/mog/00m/030/011000c 毎日新聞 ja associated with Train 208. Among the fatalities, 27 victims died instantly from severe chest and abdominal compression injuries or traumatic brain injuries, while one additional victim died later after unsuccessful medical treatment.上海外事志->--下编·第六篇对外交流->--第九章国际旅游->--附：“3·24”列车相撞事故 Shanghai Foreign Affairs Gazetteer, Lower Volume, Part VI (Foreign Exchanges), Chapter 9 (International Tourism), Appendix: “March 24” Train Collision Accident http://www.shtong.gov.cn/newsite/node2/node2245/node69969/node69988/node70097/node70231/userobject1ai69897.html https://web.archive.org/web/20190415045718/http://www.shtong.gov.cn/newsite/node2/node2245/node69969/node69988/node70097/node70231/userobject1ai69897.html 2019-04-15 2018-03-18 A further Japanese student, Hirata Hironori, died after being repatriated to Japan. The Japanese victims included the group leader, Tetsuo Kendo, a physical education instructor and kendo teacher at Kochi Gakugei High School, as well as 27 first-year high school students (17 male and 10 female). Between the two trains involved, casualties were relatively lower on Train 208, as its baggage car was positioned directly behind the locomotive. The most severe losses occurred in the second soft-seat coach behind the locomotive of Train 311, which sustained the heaviest impact and suffered the highest number of casualties. Investigation On 25 March 1988, the State Council of the People's Republic of China established a joint accident response and relief leadership group composed of officials from the Shanghai Municipal People's Government, the Ministry of Railways of the People's Republic of China, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, and other relevant departments.Feng Yizhen 27 March 1988 Chen Junsheng Visits Shanghai to Handle Aftermath of the “March 24” Accident; Accident Relief and Investigation Teams Have Been Formed Separately zh:陈俊生赴沪处理“3·24”事故善后工作 事故善后小组和事故调查小组分别组成 People's Daily 1 zh At the same time, an investigation team was formed by the national safety authority in cooperation with supervisory and public security agencies, including the Ministry of Public Security of the People's Republic of China. Shortly after the accident, a spokesperson of the Shanghai Railway Bureau stated that the cause might have been brake failure on Train 311. However, subsequent investigations concluded that the braking system of Train 311 was functioning normally. Investigators from the Japan Overseas Railway Technical Association, including analyst Yamada Naonori, stated that safety facilities on the siding and station approach at Kuangxiang railway station were insufficient. Kenichi Matsumoto, editor-in-chief of the Japanese railway magazine *Monthly Railfan*, argued that Chinese passenger rolling stock design at the time lacked adequate crashworthiness protection.28 March 1988 Japanese Experts Discuss Causes of the Suburban Shanghai Train Accident zh:日本专家探讨沪郊列车事故原因 Reference News 2 On 5 April 1988, the investigation team of the National Safety Production Committee concluded that the accident was caused by the Train 311 driver's violation of operating rules, and classified the incident as a major railway operational responsibility accident.6 April 1988 After Full Investigation and Verification, the Suburban Shanghai Train Collision Was Confirmed as a Major Responsibility Accident; the Responsible Driver and Assistant Driver Have Been Arrested and Detained zh:经过充分调查和论证确认 沪郊列车相撞是重大责任事故 直接责任者正副司机已分别被逮捕收审 People's Daily 1 According to a report on the trial of the 324 Railway Accident case published on 22 September 1988, the locomotive crew of Train 311, Zhou Xiaoniu and Liu Guolong, were distracted and negligent while on duty. They violated regulations governing railway locomotive operations and technical management by failing to maintain a proper lookout and apply braking measures in a timely manner. They also unauthorizedly switched off the cab radio telephone, resulting in insufficient braking distance and ultimately contributing to the collision. Subsequent investigations found that Zhou and Liu had neglected their duties during operation. They failed to keep a proper lookout, did not verify the departure signal, and failed to comply with the mandatory call-and-response operating procedures. 54However, the complete investigation report has not been publicly released. In addition to the negligence and operational violations committed by the locomotive crew of Train 311, another contributing factor was improper dispatching procedures at Fengbang station. Train 208 was scheduled to depart Fengbang station at 14:13, but station personnel failed to adhere to the timetable and authorized its departure two minutes early, at 14:11, on the day of the accident.58 After departing, Train 208 approached Kuangxiang station and observed a green distant signal, while both the cab signal and home signal displayed a single yellow aspect. As the train neared the up-line home signal at Kuangxiang station, its locomotive crew suddenly observed Train 311 crossing the turnout ahead and saw the home signal change to red. The crew immediately initiated emergency braking, but were unable to prevent a collision with the oncoming Train 311.61 Rescue efforts After the collision, factory workers and farmers near Kuangxiang railway station were the first to report the accident to the Public Security Bureau and health authorities. A train conductor also reported the incident to the Shanghai Railway Bureau via a nearby dispatch telephone. Local fire units from Shanghai arrived at the scene at about 14:30.嘉定卫生志->--大事记 Jiading Health Gazetteer — Chronology of Major Events http://www.shtong.gov.cn/newsite/node2/n108239/n134573/n134578/index.html https://web.archive.org/web/20170927024430/http://www.shtong.gov.cn/newsite/node2/n108239/n134573/n134578/index.html 2017-09-27 2026-06-15 www.shtong.gov.cn Medical teams from nearby institutions such as Nanxiang Hospital and the Fengbang Township Health Center were dispatched immediately. A larger rescue force was then mobilized, including over 100 medical staff from Shanghai hospitals,26 March 1988 Mobilizing All Efforts and Acting with Full Responsibility: Aftermath Work of the Suburban Shanghai Train Collision Intensifies zh:上下动员 全力以赴 认真负责 沪郊撞车事故善后工作加紧进行 People's Daily 38 ambulances, 30 traffic police command vehicles, and 19 fire engines. Units of the People's Liberation Army stationed in Shanghai also participated in the rescue operation.上海军事志——第七卷：支援军队，关爱人民——第二章：关爱人民——第二节：应急救援与灾害救助 http://www.shtong.gov.cn/Newsite/node2/node2245/node75342/node75353/node75380/node75385/userobject1ai92245.html https://web.archive.org/web/20180323154944/http://www.shtong.gov.cn/Newsite/node2/node2245/node75342/node75353/node75380/node75385/userobject1ai92245.html 2018-03-23 2026-06-15 www.shtong.gov.cn Shanghai Military Gazetteer — Volume VII: Supporting the Military and Caring for the People — Chapter 2: Caring for the People — Section 2: Emergency Rescue and Disaster Relief Journalist Tong Chanfu, traveling on Train 208, also joined the rescue efforts and assisted firefighters in transporting injured passengers. .Wu Qinru 1988 闯入新闻界的记者：对童灿福的印象 Chinese Journalist Xinhua News Agency 6 8–9 1003-1146 The Journalist Who “Broke Into the News”: Impressions of Tong Chanfu当我进入重大灾难事故现场时 Journalist zh Shanghai United Media Group; Institute of Journalism, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences 34–36 1006-3277 When I Entered a Major Disaster Accident Scene Local residents took part in the rescue, but the area was later sealed off by the People's Armed Police due to crowding The site,上海列車事故 ２９年後の真実：第１章＜３＞ 「外事無小事」懸命の救助 The Truth 29 Years After the Shanghai Train Accident: Chapter 1 (3) — ‘In Foreign Affairs, No Matter Is Too Small’: All-Out Rescue Efforts https://mainichi.jp/articles/20171117/mog/00m/030/009000c 2026-06-15 毎日新聞 ja located in a suburban area more than 10 km from central Shanghai, was further affected by rain and heavy fog in the evening, complicating rescue operations. Because the first and second carriages had been severely crushed in the collision, rescue workers were forced to climb onto the roofs of the damaged cars and cut through them using oxy-fuel cutting equipment. They then entered the carriages through the openings and evacuated the injured passengers to temporary first-aid stations established at the accident site for emergency treatment.Following initial treatment, the injured were transported to local hospitals for further medical care. Severely injured victims were treated jointly by medical teams dispatched from Shanghai and staff at local hospitals. Once their conditions had stabilized, they were transferred by the medical teams to their respective hospitals for continued treatment.Rescue operations at the scene continued for 11 hours. At the time of the accident, the then Director of the Shanghai Railway Bureau, Han Zhubin, together with officials from the Shanghai Railway Public Security Bureau and the Shanghai Railway Sub-bureau, visited the accident site in the afternoon of the incident day. Shanghai Municipal Party Committee Deputy Secretary and Vice Mayor Huang Ju also arrived at the scene that afternoon.25 March 1988 上海郊区客运列车相撞事故：已确认50余人死亡；事故原因正在调查中 People's Daily Suburban Passenger Train Collision in Shanghai: More Than 50 Casualties Confirmed; Cause of Accident Under Investigation On the evening of 24 March, a rescue command headquarters was established under the command of then Vice Minister of the Ministry of Railways of the People's Republic of China, Li Senmao, which made emergency arrangements for the rescue operations. Prior to this, on-site rescue efforts had been directly coordinated by a leadership group from the Shanghai Municipal Health Bureau. During the rescue operation, the Shanghai Blood Center provided more than 60,000 millilitres of blood. The accident scene was largely cleared by 04:00 on 25 March, and services on the Shanghai–Hangzhou railway resumed at noon the same day. The injured Japanese passengers were transferred on 25 March to major hospitals in central Shanghai, including Shanghai First People's Hospital, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University, Huadong Hospital, and Huashan Hospital, for continued treatment. The 129 uninjured students and teachers of the tour group, along with 12 lightly injured students, returned to Japan by aircraft on the evening of 25 March. The bodies of the deceased were gradually transported to the Longhua Funeral Parlor after 16:30 on 25 March, and three of them were cremated on 26 March. On the morning of 27 March, 134 injured Japanese students and family members of the deceased and injured victims returned to Japan aboard a chartered flight.28 March 1988 上海铁路事故善后工作深入开展；事故调查领导小组和专家组成立；日本遇难者遗体运回或火化 People's Daily 1 zh Aftermath Work of the Shanghai Railway Accident Intensifies; Accident Investigation Leadership Group and Expert Team Established; Bodies of Japanese Victims Transported Back or Cremated The coffins of 24 Japanese victims and the ashes of three others were transported on the same flight. At that time, 14 family members and 11 injured passengers (including five seriously injured cases) remained in Shanghai; all remaining injured persons had returned to Japan by 3 April. Aftercare On March 25, Zhu Qizhen, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, traveled to Shanghai.上海外事志->--下编·第六篇对外交流->--第九章国际旅游->--附：“3·24”列车相撞事故 Shanghai Foreign Affairs Chronicle -> Part 2, Chapter 6: International Exchange -> Chapter 9: International Tourism -> Appendix: "March 24" Train Collision Accident http://www.shtong.gov.cn/newsite/node2/node2245/node69969/node69988/node70097/node70231/userobject1ai69897.html 2026-06-15 2019-04-15 https://web.archive.org/web/20190415045718/http://www.shtong.gov.cn/newsite/node2/node2245/node69969/node69988/node70097/node70231/userobject1ai69897.html dead Entrusted by Acting Premier Li Peng, Chen Junsheng, Secretary-General of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, Ye Qing, deputy director of the State Economic Commission of the People's Republic of China, and six other officials arrived in Shanghai on the morning of March 26 to handle the aftermath of the March 24, 1988 Shanghai train collision.冯亦珍. 陈俊生赴沪处理“3·24”事故善后工作 事故善后小组和事故调查小组分别组成 Feng Yizhen and Chen Junsheng went to Shanghai to handle the aftermath of the "3.24" accident. An accident aftermath handling team and an accident investigation team were formed respectively. https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%BA%BA%E6%B0%91%E6%97%A5%E6%8A%A5 Compensation Shortly after the accident, China and Japan established compensation negotiation teams. The Chinese delegation was headed by Kong Lingran, deputy director of the Shanghai Railway Bureau,上海列車事故 ２９年後の真実：第３章＜４＞ 「これは命懸けの仕事だ」 Shanghai Train Accident: The Truth 29 Years Later: Chapter 3, Section 4 "This is a life-threatening job" https://mainichi.jp/articles/20171214/mog/00m/030/003000c 2026-06-19 毎日新聞 ja池井 優 ja:上海列車事故をめぐる日中交渉 Sino-Japanese Negociation concerning the Shanghai Railway Accident of 1988 http://koara.lib.keio.ac.jp/xoonips/modules/xoonips/download.php/AN00224504-19950128-0053.pdf?file_id=114357 法學研究 : 法律・政治・社会 ja 慶應義塾大学法学研究会 0389-0538 65while the Japanese delegation was led by Isao Okamura, who had stepped down as Vice President of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations on March 31, 1988, and subsequently served as executive director of the Japan-China Lawyers Exchange Association and head of the advisory legal team in April. From May 11 to 17, 1988, a Shanghai train accident condolence delegation consisting of eight members, including Han Zhubin, Director of the Shanghai Railway Bureau, Yu Pengnian, deputy director of the Shanghai Foreign Affairs Office, and Wang Daomin, Director of the Shanghai Municipal Health Bureau, visited Japan to express condolences to the families of the victims and injured students. The first round of compensation negotiations was held in Tokyo on June 18–19, 1988, and the second round took place in Shanghai on July 29–30. The compensation amount proposed by the Chinese side differed substantially from the demands made by the Japanese side. As the two parties could not agree on a permanent negotiation venue, subsequent rounds of talks alternated between Tokyo and Shanghai.上海列車事故 ２９年後の真実：第３章＜８＞ 「孔令然という人物、信用できるな」 The Truth of the Shanghai Train Accident 29 Years Later: Chapter 3, Part 8 "Is Kong Lingran a trustworthy person?" https://mainichi.jp/articles/20171215/mog/00m/030/005000c 2026-06-19 毎日新聞 ja69 After eight rounds of negotiations, Chinese and Japanese representatives signed the Shanghai Railway Accident Compensation Agreement in Kōchi, Japan, on 11 March 1989. Under the agreement, the Shanghai Railway Administration paid compensation of ¥4.5 million to the family of each Japanese victim who died in the collision (approximately US$33,000 at the time), while lump-sum compensation payments were also provided to 36 Japanese nationals who were injured. In addition, the Japanese government, insurance companies, educational institutions, and other organizations provided supplementary compensation, bringing the total compensation received by each bereaved family to approximately ¥48.5 million.Zhou Hongjun zh:论“三·二四”事故赔偿争议的解决 On the Resolution of Compensation Disputes Arising from the March 24 Accident Faxue 1989 5 17–20 East China University of Political Science and Law 1000-4238https://mainichi/articles/20171221/mog/00m/030/013000c 上海列車事故 29年後の真実 第4章＜9＞ 学芸高が最後通告、遺族が激怒 ja 毎日新聞 2018-01-04 2018-03-23 https://web.archive.org/web/20201024042600/https://mainichi.jp/articles/20171221/mog/00m/030/013000c 2020-10-24 dead On 22 February 1989, some of the victims' families filed a lawsuit with the Kochi District Court, alleging that Kochi Gakugei High School had failed to take adequate safety precautions and had therefore committed gross negligence. The plaintiffs sought ¥253 million in damages from both the school and its principal, Shōtarō Sano.https://mainichi.jp/articles/20171225/mog/00m/030/013000c Truth after 29 years of Shanghai train accident Chapter 4 <10> How to settle each heart ja ja：上海列車事故　２９年後の真実　第４章＜１０＞　それぞれの心の収め方 The original lawsuit was brought by six bereaved families, although three later reached settlements with the school.74On 17 October 1994, the Kochi District Court ruled that the school's pre-trip investigation had been "extremely inadequate". However, it held that the accident had not been reasonably foreseeable and that the school's failure to adequately investigate and verify safety conditions did not have a legally sufficient causal relationship to the consequences of the collision. The plaintiffs' claims were therefore dismissed. The judgment also criticized the school's handling of the aftermath of the accident.https://mainichi.jp/articles/20171225/mog/00m/030/013000c ja:上海列車事故　２９年後の真実　第５章＜７＞　９４年１０月１７日「請求棄却」 The Truth Behind the Shanghai Train Accident, 29 Years Later, Chapter 5 (7): "Claims Dismissed" on 17 October 1994 Mainichi Shimbun 21 January 2018 ja 23 March 2018 22 October 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201022104241/https://mainichi.jp/articles/20171225/mog/00m/030/013000c According to a later report by Mainichi Shimbun, contemporary newspaper accounts indicated that the Chinese railway inspector who was killed in the collision received compensation of only ¥2,500 Renminbi (approximately ¥80,000 Japanese yen at the time).In addition to compensation paid by the Chinese authorities, the total included a ¥15 million death insurance payment from JTB, ¥14 million from the Japan Health and School Welfare Center, approximately ¥7 million raised through public donations, and ¥8 million in condolence payments from the victims' school. When presenting the compensation plan to the victims' families, the school stated that it bore no legal responsibility for the accident and that the ¥8 million payment represented its final contribution. This position subsequently became a source of litigation.https://mainichi.jp/articles/20171221/mog/00m/030/013000c The Truth Behind the Shanghai Train Accident, 29 Years Later (Part 4-9) Mainichi Shimbun 4 January 2018 ja 23 March 2018 24 October 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201024042600/https://mainichi.jp/articles/20171221/mog/00m/030/013000c Trial Following the accident, Zhou Xiaoniu and Liu Guolong, the driver and assistant driver of Train 311 respectively, were arrested on 3 April and 22 April 1988. On 22 September 1988, the Shanghai Railway Transport Intermediate Court publicly heard the case concerning the head-on collision of the passenger trains. Zhou was convicted of causing a major traffic accident and sentenced to six years and six months' imprisonment, while Liu received a sentence of three years' imprisonment. Reactions Interactions with the victims' families and the Japanese government On the afternoon of 25 March, the Foreign Affairs Office of the Shanghai Municipal People's Government briefed Shigenobu Yoshida, the Consul General of Japan in Shanghai, on the train collision and held a press conference for both Chinese and foreign media to provide details of the accident. Two additional press conferences were held over the following two days. On 26 March, Zhang Shu, the Ambassador of China to Japan, travelled from Tokyo to Kōchi Prefecture to convey the Chinese government's condolences to Governor Tsutomu Nakanouchi and Shōtarō Sano, principal of Kochi Gakugei High School.Chinese Ambassador Visits Kochi Prefecture to Express Condolences to Families of the Victims People's Daily 27 March 1988 6 Prior to this, the Chinese Embassy in Japan had formally expressed its regret over the accident to Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. On 13 May, a delegation headed by Han Zhubin, director of the Shanghai Railway Administration, visited Japan to meet injured survivors receiving treatment in Tokyo and Osaka. The delegation also visited the families of all victims in Kōchi Prefecture individually and offered formal apologies.62 On 24 February 1989, the Shanghai Railway Administration sent facsimiles to the victims' families, inviting them to Shanghai to attend memorial events marking the first anniversary of the disaster. The administration offered to cover all travel and accommodation expenses for a three-day visit.https://mainichi.jp/articles/20171221/mog/00m/030/004000c ja:上海列車事故　２９年後の真実　第３章＜１５＞　一周忌前のギリギリの妥結 The Truth Behind the Shanghai Train Accident, 29 Years Later, Chapter 3 (15): A Last-Minute Agreement Before the First Anniversary Mainichi Shimbun 26 December 2017 ja 23 March 2018 24 October 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201024023258/https://mainichi.jp/articles/20171221/mog/00m/030/004000c Japanese response Japanese authorities received the first reports of the collision at approximately 7:00 p.m. local time on 24 March 1988.Following the accident, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs established a task force to coordinate the response, while major newspapers and television networks provided extensive coverage of the disaster.Sun Dongmin 中国驻日本大使将访问高知县，向日本遇难者家属表示慰问 People's Daily 26 March 1988 6 Chinese Ambassador to Japan to Visit Kochi Prefecture and Express Condolences to the Families of Japanese Victims According to Kyodo News, the collision may have resulted from an excessive emphasis on transportation capacity and operational targets at the expense of safety and discipline.共同社报道称，上海列车相撞事故可能是人为失误造成的。 Cankao Xiaoxi 27 March 1988 2 Kyodo News Suggests Shanghai Train Collision May Have Been Caused by Human Error On the evening of 25 March, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Takujiro Hamada arrived in Shanghai on the same flight as the parents of the deceased and injured students. Following the accident, several Japanese high schools planning educational trips to China, as well as some tourist groups, announced that they would cancel their scheduled visits. Chinese response On 25 March, Acting Premier Li Peng sent a message to Japanese Prime Minister Noboru Takeshita, expressing his condolences to the families of the Japanese students and other victims who were killed or injured in the collision. On the same day, Chinese Foreign Minister Wu Xueqian sent a message to Japanese Foreign Minister Sosuke Uno, conveying his sympathies to the victims and their families and stating that Chinese authorities were making every effort to treat the injured and deal with the aftermath of the disaster. On the afternoon of 25 March, Han Kehua, director of the China National Tourism Administration, sent a message to Japanese Transport Minister Shintaro Ishihara, expressing his condolences over the deaths of members of the Kochi school excursion group. On 26 March, Shanghai Vice Mayor Liu Zhenyuan delivered a eulogy during a funeral ceremony for the victims.http://www.shtong.gov.cn/newsite/node2/node2245/node69969/node69988/node70097/node70231/userobject1ai69897.html 上海外事公报——附录：3月24日列车相撞事故 Shanghai Municipal Office of Local Chronicles 18 March 2018 15 April 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190415045718/http://www.shtong.gov.cn/newsite/node2/node2245/node69969/node69988/node70097/node70231/userobject1ai69897.html Shanghai Foreign Affairs Gazette – Appendix: The March 24 Train Collision Accident Aftermath In the wake of the collision, the Ministry of Railways of China introduced a series of new railway safety regulations. These included mandatory brake testing within the first section of a journey after departure from the originating station and the requirement that passenger trains include a buffer car in their consist. The ministry also emphasized strict compliance with locomotive operating procedures and communication protocols between train crews and station personnel. The accident further accelerated the development of train monitoring systems and the nationwide implementation of coded signalling on station sidings.70 The accident was later commemorated in Japanese popular culture. Takazo Murashita wrote the song Shanghai Kara ("From Shanghai"), included on his album Koibumi, in memory of the students who died in the collision. Meanwhile, Daisaku Ogata's song Wuxi Ryojou, which mentions a train journey from Shanghai via Suzhou to Wuxi, was reportedly subject to voluntary broadcasting restrictions in Japan for several years following the disaster. The accident was also referenced in Keigo Higashino's novel Journey Under the Midnight Sun. The collision also affected plans for Fuji Television's 30th-anniversary Orient Express '88 project. The original itinerary had called for the train to be shipped from Shanghai to Japan, but the embarkation point was subsequently changed to Hung Hom in Hong Kong. To provide a place of remembrance for the families and friends of the Japanese victims, a memorial altar was erected near the site of the collision, and two cypress trees were planted nearby. See also List of rail accidents in China Notes External links Special photo feature: 1988 Shanghai outer loop railway head-on collision: 27 Japanese passengers killed http://news.ifeng.com/history/gaoqing/detail_2011_07/26/7940321_0.shtml https://web.archive.org/web/20110726231109/http://news.ifeng.com/history/gaoqing/detail_2011_07_26/7940321_0.shtml 26 July 2011 26 July 2011 Phoenix News (Ifeng) 9 May 2020 https://mainichi.jp/graphs/20171116/hpj/00m/030/001000g/2 Photo archive related to the Shanghai railway accident The Mainichi https://web.archive.org/web/20201029114819/https://mainichi.jp/graphs/20171116/hpj/00m/030/001000g/2 29 October 2020 15 June 2026 References Category:1988 disasters in China Category:Railway accidents and incidents in China Category:Railway accidents in 1988 Category:History of Shanghai Category:Transport in Shanghai Category:March 1988 in Asia Category:1988 in Shanghai Category:Rail transport in Shanghai