Beijing: China’s railway network managed to accommodate 1.86 billion passenger trips in the first five months of 2025, as reported by the national railway operator. This figure signifies a year-on-year increase of 7.3 percent, setting a new record for similar periods in history.
According to Namibia Press Agency, data released by the China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. indicated that an average of 11,243 trains were operated daily during this period, marking a 7.5 percent rise from the previous year. The peak of daily passenger traffic occurred on May 1, the beginning of the five-day May Day holiday, with 13,752 trains in operation and over 23 million trips provided, both the highest single-day records so far.
As China expands its visa-free policies for foreign nationals, there has been a noticeable increase in foreign passengers using the nation’s railways. In the first five months of 2025, foreign nationals accounted for 7.67 million train trips within China, a substantial 29 percent increase year on year.
Cross-border railway transport also experienced significant growth during this timeframe. For example, the China-Laos Railway saw 124,000 passenger trips, reflecting a 24.2 percent rise compared to the previous year, as per the data.