China Railway Hits Record 2.8 Billion Passengers in First Seven Months
China’s national railway network carried 2.8 billion passengers in the first seven months of 2026, marking a 4.1% year-on-year increase and setting a new record for the period, according to Xinhua News. The milestone reflects sustained domestic travel demand and the continued expansion of the country’s high-speed rail infrastructure.
Record Passenger Volume
The national railway operated an average of 11,462 passenger trains per day during January-July, an increase of 571 trains, or 5.2%, compared with the same period last year. Railway authorities deployed newly commissioned lines—including the Wuhan-Xi’an high-speed railway’s Xi’an East to Shiyan East section and the Jinhua-Jiande high-speed railway’s Lanxi East to Jiande section—to boost capacity and improve connectivity.
Cross-border passenger traffic also surged. The Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong high-speed railway carried 20.049 million cross-border passengers, up 11.5% year-on-year, while the China-Laos Railway transported 214,000 cross-border passengers, a 38.2% increase, as CNR reported.
Foreign Passenger Growth Driven by Visa Policy
A notable highlight is the sharp rise in foreign passenger numbers. The railway network carried 14.852 million foreign passengers during the period, up 32.5% year-on-year, driven largely by China’s expanded visa-free transit policy. The policy has made rail travel more accessible for international visitors, contributing to the growth in inbound tourism.
Railway-Tourism Integration Expands
The integration of railway services with the tourism sector has yielded significant results. From January to July, the national railway operated 2,159 tourist trains, including 1,184 dedicated tourist trains and 975 tourist routes. Additionally, 79 customized “fan trains” and “sports fan trains” were deployed to serve concerts, sporting events, and exhibitions, boosting service consumption, as reported by IT之家.
Enhanced Passenger Experience
Railway authorities have introduced a range of service improvements to enhance the passenger experience. The 2026 edition of China State Railway Group passenger regulations was implemented, including elderly passenger phone ticketing services and free refunds for mistakenly purchased tickets. A ticket reservation service is being piloted on more than 200 trains on the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway and Beijing-Shanghai conventional railway.
Other innovations include 26 travel pass products with discounted fares for children, “quiet carriage” service on more than 8,000 EMU trains, “pet travel” service expanded to 163 high-speed rail stations and 364 EMU trains, and “light luggage” service covering 212 stations. The railway travel code now covers all EMU trains, and 94 stations offer internet food ordering.
Broader Network Expansion
China’s railway network has been expanding rapidly. By the end of 2025, national railway operating mileage reached 165,000 kilometers, with high-speed rail exceeding 50,000 kilometers—more than the combined HSR mileage of all other countries. China Railway has announced plans to expand the total network to 180,000 kilometers by 2030, with HSR reaching 60,000 kilometers, as China Daily reported.
The 2026 targets set by China State Railway Group include completing 4.402 billion passenger trips (up 3.5%), commissioning more than 2,000 kilometers of new lines, and investing 520 billion yuan in infrastructure, according to Guandian.
Analysis and Outlook
The record passenger numbers underscore the robustness of domestic consumption and mobility in China’s economy. The 4.1% growth rate, while slightly below the 5.0% seen in the first half, reflects continued strong demand even as the base of comparison grows larger.
Zhou Changfeng, deputy director of product development at China Railway Passenger Transport Center, emphasized the importance of balancing capacity across the network: “Coordinate high-speed and conventional railway resources, carefully formulate train operation plans, increase passenger capacity deployment, maintain the scale of conventional passenger train operations, operate public welfare slow trains and rural revitalization trains, and ensure the universality, balance, and accessibility of railway transport,” he said, as quoted by China Youth Online.
With the summer peak season in full swing and continued investment in new lines, full-year passenger numbers are expected to approach or exceed the 4.402 billion target set for 2026. The planned network expansion to 180,000 kilometers by 2030, along with continued visa liberalization and tourism promotion measures, is likely to sustain growth in both domestic and international rail travel in the years ahead.