Over the past several years, high-speed railways have been developing rapidly. Image: inhabitat.com
A new rail network plan has been established. It targets at a more balanced national rail construction and a greater accessibility to more parts of the country.
A more comprehensive plan for building a rail network for a mid-and-long term was set as an upgrade of the 2008 plan, during a State Council meeting presided over by Premier Li Keqiang on June 29.
Over the past several years, high-speed railways have been developing rapidly, making transportation between big cities and lower-tier cities much more convenient. China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) statistics show that China had an operating rail length of 121,000 km, which included 19,000 km of high-speed rail by 2015.
Map of railways in China, with high-speed rail lines shown in color. Image: wikipedia
According to the new plan, China’s railway network will reach a total length of 150,000 km by 2020, of which about 30,000 km will be high-speed railway. Inter-city rail will also be gradually enhanced to achieve more balanced development among regions. China Railway aims to build a modern corporate system, financed through various market channels, in order to play a key role in the country’s railway development.
Railway construction is important for stabilizing economic growth and structural reform, especially in central and western China, said Premier Li.
The plan also vows to build a comprehensive transportation network along with road, water and air transportation.
