China announces railway innovation plan amid record passenger numbers

China has launched a comprehensive science and technology innovation plan for its railway sector covering the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030). Released by the National Railway Administration, the initiative aims to modernize the industry through research in high-speed maglev technology, specifically targeting 600 km/h speeds, and the development of 400 km/h high-speed train operating systems.

The plan includes the establishment of approximately 30 new scientific innovation bases and seeks to achieve breakthroughs in at least 100 essential technologies. Digital transformation is a key pillar, with goals to integrate artificial intelligence through 20 new application scenarios and 20 high-quality industrial datasets. Additionally, the official 12306 ticketing platform will be upgraded to provide intelligent, intermodal travel solutions.

This strategic push coincides with record-breaking passenger traffic. China Railway reported that the network handled 3.71 billion passenger trips in the first three quarters of 2026, a 4.8% year-on-year increase. The growth is supported by an expanding high-speed network, which reached 165,000 km of total operational railway by the end of 2025, including over 50,000 km of high-speed lines.