China steps up railway investment, ensuring steady progress
China has achieved steady progress in implementing a number of key railway projects, as investment in railway construction continued to grow in 2026, contributing to regional economic and social development, the national railway company said on Monday.
High-speed rail has long been a symbol of China’s rapid modernisation. Yet behind the record kilometres and impressive figures lies a deeper story: millions of daily passengers for whom travel time has ceased to be a lost hour and has become an opportunity to live, work and relax across different cities without sacrificing quality of life. New projects continue to blur the boundaries between neighbouring urban agglomerations.
According to China State Railway Group, fixed-asset investment in the railway sector for the first seven months of the year reached 440.6 billion yuan (about US$65 billion), an increase of 1.8% year on year. Major projects in recent years have been aimed at easing travel between nearby cities and within large metropolitan areas, making daily commutes more convenient.
In southern China, a landmark project was the opening of the Foshan station on the Guangzhou-Zhanjiang high-speed railway in Guangdong Province. This stop allows thousands of passengers to commute to work in just 20 minutes each day, whereas previously they had to spend more than an hour each way travelling between the neighbouring cities of Foshan and Guangzhou.
Another achievement was the full-scale testing of the Xi’an-Ankang high-speed railway in northwest China. Passing through the Qinling Mountains, this line will cut the previous three-hour journey between the two cities in northwest China’s Shaanxi Province to one hour, making daily commuting entirely feasible.
The railway operator stated that it will continue to promote major railway projects and improve the quality and efficiency of investment in railway infrastructure to support China’s high-quality development.
China has built the world’s largest high-speed rail network. By the end of 2025, the total length of the country’s operational railways reached 165,000 km, including over 50,000 km of high-speed lines. The State Railway Group noted that by 2030, the total length of operational railways is expected to reach 180,000 km, including about 60,000 km of high-speed lines.
As CCTV+ reports, steady investment growth and the opening of new routes not only strengthen regional connectivity but also lay a solid foundation for balanced economic expansion. In the coming years, China will continue to expand its high-speed network, making travel across the country even faster and more accessible.
