China's railways delivered some 1.6 billion passengers during the first ten months of the year, up 11.2 percent from a year earlier, the Ministry of Railways said on Sunday.

The number accounted for about 84 percent of the 1.9 billion passenger target the ministry has set for the year.

Meanwhile, the railways transported 3.271 billion metric tons of goods during the January-October period, up 8.1 percent year-on-year, according to a statement posted on the ministry's website.

The ministry has attached great importance to the delivery of major goods this year, including thermal coal, agricultural produce and food, to meet the demand of industrial production and the people's basic needs, the statement said.

In total, the ministry transported 1.879 billion metric tons of coal, 112.06 million metric tons of oil, 79.15 million metric tons of grain and 70.69 million metric tons of fertilizers and pesticides in the first ten months, according to the statement.

The statement said the ministry will continue to coordinate efforts to respond to market demand and improve the system's efficiency.