BEIJING, (Xinhua): China’s railway network recorded nearly 4.59 billion passenger trips in 2025, driven by the continued expansion and modernization of the country’s rail transport system, official data showed on Thursday. Figures released at a national railway work conference showed that passenger trips increased 6.4 percent year on year, while freight volume surpassed 5.27 billion tonnes, up 2 percent compared with 2024.
Speaking at the conference, Song Xiude, head of the National Railway Administration, said China’s total operating railway mileage has reached 165,000 kilometers, including more than 50,000 kilometers of high-speed rail lines. Song noted that key indicators such as passenger turnover, freight volume and transport density remain among the highest in the world. He added that China continues to lead in high-speed, plateau, cold-region and heavy-haul railway technologies, with rapid progress also being made in intelligent and green rail development.
“The continuously improving modern railway infrastructure system has provided strong support for the country’s high-quality economic and social development,” Song said
