Lu Dongfu was appointed director of the State Railways Administration on Tuesday, becoming the first head of the newly established administration that takes over the administrative responsibilities of the now defunct Ministry of Railways.

Lu, 57, was also appointed vice-minister of the Ministry of Transport, according to the official website of the Central People's Government.

Before the appointment on Tuesday, Lu served in the Shanghai Railway Bureau and was the chief of the bureau before he became vice-minister of railways in 2003.

The ministry was dismantled into administrative and commercial arms to reduce bureaucracy and improve service in the latest round of the Central government’s efforts to restructure its cabinet.

The China Railway Corporation was established earlier this month to take over the commercial functions of the former railway ministry. Sheng Guangzu, the last railway minister, was named chairman of the corporation.

However, the reforms in the local railway bureaus still have a long way to go, the Economic Information reported.

The report, quoting an official from a local railway bureau, said that local railway bureaus could become subsidiaries of the China Railway Corporation.

One of the suggested plans, which would integrate the 18 local railway bureaus into seven regional corporations, has been put on hold, the report said.

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