China's railway fixed-asset investment up 2.1 pct in first half

China's railway construction maintained steady momentum in the first half of 2026, with significant progress made on a number of key projects, marking a strong start to the country's railway development during the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) period, the national railway operator said Friday.

Fixed-asset investment in the railway sector totaled 363.2 billion yuan (about 53.46 billion U.S. dollars) in the first six months of the year, up 2.1 percent year on year, according to China State Railway Group Co., Ltd.

During the period, a total of 355.2 kilometers of new railway lines were put into operation, the company said.

Breakthroughs were achieved in a number of technically challenging projects, underscoring the country's growing capabilities in railway equipment, construction management and intelligent construction, the company said.

China has built the world's largest high-speed railway network. By the end of 2025, the country's total operating railway mileage had reached 165,000 km, including more than 50,000 km of high-speed rail.

According to the company, the country's operational railway mileage is expected to reach 180,000 kilometers by 2030, including about 60,000 kilometers of high-speed rail. ■