China's Ministry of Railways has allocated 332 billion yuan (about
US$42.6 billion) to railway construction and purchase of new
vehicles in 2007.
About 256 billion yuan (US$32.8 billion) will be used to
purchase land, building substructures and laying tracks, another 16
billion will be used to renovate existing railway facilities and
the remaining 60 billion yuan will be spent on vehicles.
The ministry said that 2,099 kilometers of new track and 2,347
kilometers of double-track would be laid this year.
It said 607 kilometers of new track, 663 kilometers of
double-track and 2,019 kilometers of electric rail will be put into
use this year.
The ministry said priority would go to the construction of
railways for passenger transport, coal transportation and
inter-regional lines this year.
(Xinhua News Agency January 16, 2007)
