Consecutive days of rain in north China have affected normal operations of the Beijing-Jiujiang railway and several passenger trains have been delayed.

Passenger trains K105 and T107, which set out from Beijing on Monday for Shenzhen in south China's Guangdong Province, were delayed for around 17 hours, an official at Shenzhen railway station said yesterday.

Trains had to slow down because a section of the railway between Beijing and Heze in east China's Shandong Province was soggy due to the days of rain, the official said on condition of anonymity.

Repair operations were in full swing last night to resume normal service on the line, according to sources from the Ministry of Railways yesterday.

But the sources failed to predict when the railway would get back to normal.

The delays have resulted in passengers having to wait for long periods in railway stations along the line, particularly at Beijing West, Jiujiang and Shenzhen railway stations.

Sources from Beijing West station said passengers were being advised to take alternative trains or use other means of transport.

The delays have been getting shorter, they said.

Downpours hit Heze from last Friday until Monday and the rainfall reached up to 180 millimeters.

(China Daily October 16, 2003)