China to add 30,000 km to railway network

​Beijing, Feb 27 (IANS) China on Monday said its domestic railway railway system is expected to grow by 30,000 kilometres before 2020.

Minister of Transport Li Xiaopeng said one-third of the increased network will consist of high-speed rail, People's Daily reported.

Li noted that the total mileage of roads will be expanded by 320,000 kilometres during the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020).

According to the comprehensive plan for the development of transportation, total investment in transportation during that 13th Five-Year Plan period will be as much as 15 trillion yuan ($2.18 trillion) of which three-quarters of that amount will go toward railways and roads.

Railway investment in 2017 alone is expected to reach 800 billion yuan. By 2020, China will have built a comprehensive modern transportation system that is safe, convenient, efficient and green.