China's railway construction drive continues

BEIJING - China will maintain the scale and intensity of railway construction in 2015 and more lines will be put into operation, an official said on Friday.

"Railway construction, particularly in China's central and western regions, is a strategic move in response to the economic 'new normal'," said Lu Dongfu, director of the National Railway Administration (NRA).

Railway spending is of great significance to stabilizing economic growth, adjusting structure and improving people's livelihoods, he said.

The director said several thousands of kilometers of track will come into operation in 2015.

China has more than 110,000 kilometers of railways and over 15,000 kilometers of them are high-speed. China is now preparing to sell equipment and technology to foreign markets.

Rail cooperation with India, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Mongolia, Russia, Thailand, the United States, Uzbekistan and European countries, progressed in 2014.

The NRA in December unveiled China's first design specification standards for high-speed rail links. From Feb 1, the specifications will lay a solid foundation for railway enterprises to explore the overseas market.