File photo of high speed train.

Guangdong Railway Safety Management Regulations, the first provincial rules on railway safety in China, went into effect from Dec. 1, CCTV news reported.

From now, railway companies should inform passengers in advance about delays and take remedial measures when trains get delayed or suspended.

Passengers forcibly occupying seats will be punished. Those without valid tickets can be stopped from entering the station. If the information on the tickets does not match the identity of the passenger, the railways have the right to forbid travel. Besides, the regulations forbid passengers from insulting or abusing staff.

The new rules also ban activities that are hazardous to railway safety. People cannot fly birds or push-button aircraft or any low-altitude floating objects such as kites, balloons and Kongming lights within 500 meters of the power line on each side. Those who discharge sewage, dump garbage, set off fireworks, burn plants, graze livestock or undertake any activity that threatens railway safety in protection zones may be fined no more than 2,000 yuan. Companies or groups can be fined no more than 50,000 yuan.