China to boost rail network by 2020

It will expand its rail network to 150,000 km, including 30,000 km of high speed rail

China will expand its rail network to 150,000 km, including 30,000 km of high speed rail, by 2020, the country's top economic planner said on Wednesday.

China expects to reach 38,000 km of high speed rail lines by 2025, an official from National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said.

By 2020, the railways will be covering over 80% of major cities nationwide, reducing the travel time between various towns and major cities, Xinhua news agency quoted the official as saying.

The new plan also emphasised boosting rail construction in central and western areas to achieve a more balanced development among regions.

NDRC statistics show that China had an operating rail length of 121,000 km by 2015, of which 19,000 km was high speed rail lines.