Rail network to get earthquake warnings

China will provide early earthquake warnings for its high-speed railway network within three years to reduce the threat to the world's longest rail network, which transports more than 1 billion passengers a year.

The China Earthquake Administration and China Railway Corp signed an agreement on Tuesday to begin a trial that aims to bring the country's high-speed railways into the national earthquake early warning system, a statement from the administration said.

A pilot run will be conducted before the early warning service is officially in operation, it said.