The trial of a former railway official was delayed on Wednesday morning due to heavy traffic congestion in Beijing.

Su Shunhu, former deputy chief of the transport bureau of the former ministry of railways, is charged with taking bribes of 24.9 million yuan ($4 million) from three companies.

The case was scheduled to be heard at Beijing No 2 Intermediate People's Court from 10:30 am on Wednesday but the police vehicle transporting Su encountered heavy traffic congestion on a highway in the northern part of Beijing.

The court announced that the trial would be changed to start at about 1:45 pm due to the traffic jams.

Su has been investigated since July 2011 on allegations of helping a coal mine boss obtain quota for railway transportation, the Economic Observer reported.

The former ministry of railways was dismantled in March after the annual session of the National People's Congress.