China continues to solidify its position as a global leader in high-speed rail, boasting the world’s most extensive network and an ambitious expansion plan. The country’s rapid development in this sector is reshaping transportation and driving economic growth.
China’s High-Speed Rail Tightens Global Lead
According to the latest report by the International Union of Railways (UIC), “Atlas – High-Speed Rail 2024,” the global high-speed rail network totals approximately 65,000 km in operation, with an additional 16,600 km under construction. China leads both categories, currently operating 45,390 km of lines capable of reaching speeds up to 350 km/h.
Currently, 8,656 km of new lines are under construction in China, designed for maximum speeds of 350 km/h and 250 km/h. An additional 3,754 km of high-speed lines are planned across 16 projects, with 2,891 km designed for 350 km/h and the remainder for 250 km/h.
Long-term plans include the construction of an additional 7,134 km of high-speed lines, also at speeds of 350 km/h and 250 km/h. This expansion is intended to consolidate China’s position in the railway sector and support economic development by improving connectivity between urban centers and less developed regions.
China’s Network Compared to the Rest of the World
China’s high-speed rail era began in 2008 with construction of the line between Beijing and Tianjin, which opened in 2011 spanning 1,318 km. Since then, China has rapidly expanded its network, adding thousands of kilometers of high-speed lines annually. Between 2023 and 2025, China added 5,000 km of lines, bringing the total to 50,000 km.
In 2021, China’s operational high-speed network was 40,474 km, while the global total was 18,366 km. In 2022, China had 40,493 km, compared to 18,928 km for the rest of the world. By 2023, China’s network reached 45,390 km, while the rest of the world had 19,309 km in operation.
Europe ranks second globally in terms of high-speed network length, but remains significantly behind China. In 2021, Europe had 11,990 km, compared to China’s 40,474 km (a difference of 28,484 km). In 2022, Europe had 12,384 km, while China had 40,493 km (a difference of 28,109 km). In 2023, Europe had 12,545 km of high-speed lines, while China had 45,390 km (a difference of 32,845 km).
By the end of 2025, China’s high-speed network reached 50,000 km with the commissioning of the Xi’an–Yan’an (300 km), Wuhan–Yichang (314 km), and Hangzhou–Quzhou (131 km) lines.
In 2025, China State Railway recorded 4.28 billion trips on the network, a 6.6% increase from the previous year. The network now reaches 97% of Chinese cities with over 500,000 inhabitants, and has a daily capacity of up to 16 million passengers.
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