China National Railway Group Co., Ltd. held a meeting in Beijing on the 2nd, mentioning that in 2024, the national railway transported 4.08 billion passengers, an increase of 10.8% year-on-year, setting a historical record.
According to a China News Service report, in 2024, the daily passenger transport volume of China's national railways reached a historical high of 21.448 million passengers, and the passenger volume during the Spring Festival, summer, and holiday seasons repeatedly set new records. In terms of freight, a total freight volume of 3.99 billion tons was achieved, an increase of 1.9% year-on-year, continuing an 8-year growth trend, with the average daily loading surpassing 180,000 cars for the first time.
In addition, in 2024, the national railway completed a fixed asset investment of 850.6 billion yuan (521.818 billion Malaysian ringgit), an increase of 11.3% year-on-year, maintaining a high level of operation. 3,113 kilometers of new lines were commissioned, including 2,457 kilometers of high-speed rail. By the end of 2024, the national railway operating mileage reached 162,000 kilometers, including 48,000 kilometers of high-speed rail.
The China-Europe freight trains operated 19,000 trips throughout the year, sending 2.07 million TEUs, with year-on-year growth rates of 10% and 9% respectively; Central Asia freight trains operated 12,000 trips, sending 880,000 TEUs, with year-on-year growth rates of 10% and 12% respectively; the Western Land-Sea New Corridor trains sent 960,000 TEUs, an increase of 11% year-on-year.
The meeting mentioned that in 2025, the scope of operation for the full-schedule trains will be expanded, the construction of the southern route of the cross-Caspian China-Europe trains will be promoted, and capacity expansion and transformation of border ports and back channels will be implemented, pushing the China-Europe trains to develop towards higher quality, better efficiency, and greater safety. The coverage of the Western Land-Sea New Corridor trains will be expanded, and the organic connection between the Western Land-Sea New Corridor trains and the China-Europe trains will be promoted.