Massive rail spending planned for this year

Source: Xinhua | January 1, 2009, Thursday |

Print Edition

AMID a surge in planned infrastructure projects this year aimed at boosting domestic demand, China plans to almost double its investment in railways to about 600 billion yuan (US$87.9 billion).

The money is part of the 4-trillion-yuan stimulus package announced by the government last year.

In 2008, China spent 330 billion yuan on railways, according to a national conference on railway construction held yesterday.

Part of this year's spending will be used to build 5,148km of new lines, said Minister of Railways Liu Zhijun.

The money will also help put five passenger-dedicated, high-speed lines into operation this year, according to Liu. These lines will link the central city of Wuhan, Hubei Province, to the southern city of Guangzhou, Guangdong Province. Zhengzhou in central China's Henan Province will be linked to Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. A line will connect Ningbo to Wenzhou, both in east China's Zhejiang Province. One will link Wenzhou in Zhejiang to Fuzhou in Fujian Province, and the last will connect Fuzhou to Xiamen, also in Fujian.

The ministry also plans to start 70 new projects this year with part of the money. Those projects will need a total investment of 1.5 trillion yuan to be completed, Liu said.

Liu also predicted railway travel would be much easier by 2012. Currently, there are not enough seats for all the people who want to travel, especially during the Spring Festival, when millions are on the move. "There could be a historical change in China's railway transport by 2012," he said.

Nation

About Us
|
Terms of Use
|
RSS
|
Privacy Policy
|
Contact Us
|
Shanghai Call Center: 962288
|
Tip-off hotline: 52920043

沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
|
互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
|
网络视听许可证：0909346
|
广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
|
增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012

Massive rail spending planned for this year

Email this to your friend