China's railway mileage tops 165,000 km

BEIJING -- China's national railway operator said Sunday that the country's total operating railway mileage nationwide has increased from 146,300 km to 165,000 km during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25).

The expansion represents a 12.8 percent increase during the five-year period, according to the China State Railway Group Co Ltd.

During the 2021-25 period, China's operating high-speed railway mileage increased by 32.98 percent from 37,900 km to 50,400 km, making the country home to the world's largest high-speed rail network.

In 2025 alone, China reported railway fixed asset investment of 901.5 billion yuan ($128.3 billion), and put into operation 3,109 km of new rail lines, including 2,862 km of high-speed rail lines.

China will continue to advance the construction of the railway network during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30), the railway operator said, noting that the national railway operating mileage is expected to reach 180,000 km by 2030, including about 60,000 km of high-speed rail.