Timeline

1980s: Railways develop slowly because of fund shortage.

Sept 1, 1996: The Beijing-Kowloon Railway, a north-south artery line that stretches some 2,300 km and crosses nine provinces and municipalities, opens to traffic. It is the most heavily invested railway line.

April 1, 1997: The first railway speed-up starts, raising the top speed of passenger trains to 140 km per hour from 120 km per hour.

Oct 1, 1998: The second railway speed-up begins, raising the top speed of passenger trains to 160 km per hour.

July 1, 2006: The 1,956-km Qinghai-Tibet Railway, the world's highest railway, opens to traffic.

April 18, 2007: The sixth railway speed-up is launched, raising passenger trains' operation speed to 200 km per hour.

Dec 26, 2009: The Wuhan-Guangzhou High-speed Railway, with the world's fastest designed speed at 350 km per hour, starts operation.

May 11, 2011: The Beijing-Shanghai high-speed rail line begins a one-month trial operation.

(China Daily 06/01/2011 page28)