A passenger train derailment in China that injured 15 people and made national headlines was caused by a "disgruntled" worker, state-run media reported Thursday.

Wu Zhenjin, a worker at Harbin Railway Station in northeastern China's Heilongjiang province, was arrested in connection with Sunday's incident, the Global Times said, citing a China Business Morning Post report.

Wu, who led a railway maintenance team, allegedly disconnected 12 metres (13 yards) of the track, possibly out of anger at being passed over for a promotion, the paper said.

Investigators believe the perpetrator would have needed professional tools to cut the track, the report said, adding that Wu had exhibited "abnormal behaviour" after the incident.

The derailment did not cause any fatalities.