A former high-level railway official went on trial in Northeast China's Heilongjiang province on Wednesday, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Media reports said this was the start of a series of trials of a group of senior railway officials investigated for corruption since 2010, including Liu Zhijun, former minister of railways who pushed the development of China's high-speed railways.

Luo Jinbao, former chairman of China Railway Container Transport Co Ltd, stood trial on Wednesday.

Luo, 56, is accused of taking advantage of his position to accept 32 bribes. He held key positions, including director-general of the Urumqi Railway Bureau, and later headed a preparation department for building the Shijiazhuang-Taiyuan high-speed railway, the report said.

The trial is being held at Harbin Intermediate People's Court.

Media reports said Luo is closely related to Liu. Luo was removed from office in October 2010 and has been under investigation since January 2011. Liu was taken for investigation in February 2011.