China is reinforcing its leadership in rail transport by expanding its high-speed rail network and planning to raise train speeds to 400 km/h by 2035. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

China Accelerates Domestic High-Speed Rail Growth

China is rapidly developing its high-speed rail infrastructure, aiming to reach speeds of 400 km/h and extend the network to 70,000 km by 2035.

China Expands Speed and Length of High-Speed Rail Network
Photo: Xinhua

President of China Railway, Side Song, shared this vision at the World Congress on High-Speed Rail in Beijing.

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By the end of 2024, the total length reached 48,000 km—about 70% of the global high-speed rail infrastructure.

The figure is expected to exceed 50,000 km by the end of this year and grow by another 40% by 2035.

The network already connects 97% of cities with populations over 500,000.

Over 10,000 trains operate daily, transporting 16 million passengers.

To achieve the higher speed, China developed the CR450AF Fuxing prototype, presented in December 2024.

It reached 420 km/h during testing—70 km/h above the current operating limit.

CRRC is working with the China Academy of Railway Sciences to integrate digital technologies into train control systems.

These innovations aim to reduce travel time and enhance safety across the network.

China Expands Its International Railway Influence

China also exports its rail technology, leading projects in Laos, Indonesia, Hungary, and Serbia.

These efforts position the country as a global leader in railway development.

Delegations from Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, and Uzbekistan attended the opening ceremony.

They expressed interest in joining China on future cross-border railway initiatives.

According to Vice Premier Guoqing Zhang, China once depended on imported technology in the early 2000s.

Now the country independently designs and manufactures key components for high-speed rail.

“We not only caught up with the world’s leaders but are now ready to surpass them,” Zhang stated.

This bold strategy places the nation at the forefront of global rail innovation.

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