The Chinese Ministry of Railways announced on Tuesday that China's railway transport capacity has seen a double-figure growth over the last two years thanks to faster trains.

The capacity increased by 18.5 percent and the freight transport capacity increased by 15 percent over the last two years after the speed of trains was raised on April 18, 2004, said the ministry.

The speed raises served to link China's major economic circles and greatly boosted China's rapid economic growth, said an official with the ministry.

China put into service 19 pairs of express trains linking major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing and Xi'an, increased the speed of trains to above 160 km per hour and opened more express freight trains.

According to the ministry, China's railways completed 1.154 billion passenger journeys last year, 18.7 percent more than before the speed was raised, and transported a total of 2.686 billion tons of cargo.

China has 22,090 kilometers of railways which can allow trains to run at a speed above 120 km per hour, 14,025 kilometers of railways above 160 km per hour and 5,371 kilometers above 200 km per hour.

The ministry said these extended high-speed railways lines have increased the possibility for China to launch more strategic railway speed raises in the coming years.

(Xinhua News Agency April 19, 2006)