High-speed trains to take the strain

Thirty-five high-speed rail lines, measuring 11,000 km, are being rolled out throughout China, a railway ministry official said yesterday.

With China's railways among the main beneficiaries of the government's 4-trillion-yuan stimulus package, around 13,000 km of high-speed railways capable of handling trains traveling at more than 200 kph could be completed and put into service by 2012, said Zheng Jian, chief planner with the Ministry of Railways.

The construction of an additional 5,000-km of high-speed railways will be begun soon, he said.