China invests in 60,000 km of high-speed rail by 2030
China is set to undertake a significant expansion of its railway system, emphasizing high-speed rail, as part of its comprehensive strategy to enhance connectivity and bolster economic growth, according to the reports. Beijing plans to expand the length of its high-speed rail network by 19 per cent within the next five years, solidifying its status as the world leader in this field. On Sunday, the China State Railway Group, which serves as the national rail operator, unveiled the plan. According to the blueprint, China’s operational rail network is projected to extend to approximately 180,000 km by 2030. According to the report, high-speed rail lines will total approximately 60,000 km, accounting for nearly one-third of the entire network. The expansion is a key component of the country’s 2026-2030 five-year plan, which prioritizes infrastructure development.
China’s rail network has experienced significant expansion in recent years. From 2021 to 2025, the high-speed rail system expanded by approximately 33 percent, growing from 37,900 km to 50,400 km. During the same period, the overall railway network expanded by 12.8 per cent, increasing from 146,300 km to 165,000 km. A report by the International Union of Railways states that China now accounts for more than 70 per cent of the world’s total high-speed rail mileage.
In addition to extending track length, China State Railway Group announced its commitment to accelerating technological innovation. In the coming five years, the operator intends to finalize operational testing and design work for train sets that can achieve speeds of 400 kmph, while simultaneously advancing trial validation, according to the report. Despite the success of high-speed rail, concerns persist regarding heavy debt and low profitability. Some analysts have advised caution, cautioning against aggressive expansion. The company responded to these concerns by stating that its debt-to-asset ratio decreased by one percentage point to 62.5 per cent by the end of 2025, according to the report.
The railway system’s financial report indicated transport revenue of 1.02 trillion yuan in 2025, reflecting a 3.1 per cent increase from the prior year. This represented the inaugural occasion when revenue surpassed the 1 trillion yuan threshold. The China State Railway Group has also underscored advancements in its international operations. Last year, freight train services connecting China with Central Asia and Europe accomplished approximately 34,000 trips, transporting over 3 million containers. This year, the company intends to advance significant international projects. These include the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway, which commenced construction in mid-2025 as part of the Belt and Road Initiative, and the completion of Hungary’s section of the Budapest-Belgrade railway, following the opening of the Serbian segment last October, the news report stated.
