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China to double railway investment in 2009

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-12-31 19:40

Rail lines across the country added up to 78,000 km at the end of 2007.

The ministry also plans to add more rails to busy routes and to provide separate rails for passenger and cargo transport. This should also help boost transport capacity and efficiency by 2012.

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Liu envisioned inter-city rail systems would be put into place by 2012 in populous regions, such as the Shanghai-led Yangtze River Delta, Guangzhou-centered Pearl River Delta and Beijing-led Bohai areas.

Construction on railways began to boom in China after the country initiated a mid- and long-term plan in 2004. Liu said the country revised the plan this year so the distance of rail lines would increase to 120,000 km by 2020, from the original goal of 100,000 km.

The country also raised rail speeds to help with passenger flow. The latest change came in April last year.

About 1.46 billion people traveled by rail this year, up 10.9 percent from last year. Both transport capacity and efficiency had improved after train speeds increased, Liu said.

In addition, 3.3 billion tonnes of cargo had been delivered by rail, up 4.9 percent year on year.

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