The latest operational data for October 2026 has been released, and the freight volume of the national railway in the first three quarters has remained at a high level of 3.05 billion tons, continuing to play a ballast role in the national logistics system. This comprehensive railway logistics network covering both ends of the main line and connecting to cross-border channels is becoming the core artery supporting the smooth operation of China's real economy.

Stable transportation of bulk materials to support the bottom

Relying on the advantages of centralized and unified dispatching and command, the national railways have continuously increased their efforts to transport coal from the four major coal producing areas of Shanxi, Shaanxi, Inner Mongolia, and Xinjiang, ensuring that all coal for electricity is loaded and delivered quickly. In the first three quarters, a total of 1.56 billion tons of coal were sent, of which 1.04 billion tons were for electricity. The coal stored in power plants directly supplied by the national railways has always maintained a high level of safety. The railway system is deeply embedded in the entire chain of coal production, transportation, and sales, with a total of 84 coal storage base projects developed and a new collaborative model for coal production, transportation, and sales established, significantly reducing intermediate circulation losses.

The transportation of agricultural materials has also maintained high-speed growth. The railway department has opened a dedicated green channel and prioritized the guarantee of transportation capacity for grain transportation. In the first three quarters, a total of 88.96 million tons of grain were sent, a year-on-year increase of 15%. The monthly transportation volume in September, entering the autumn harvest season, reached 10.25 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 26%, fully ensuring the efficient operation of the domestic grain circulation system.

Multimodal transport and continuous expansion of cross-border channels

The market-oriented upgrading of railway logistics products is accelerating. From January to September, a total of 1629 logistics general contracts were signed for railways nationwide, with a total contracted transportation volume of 1.32 billion tons. A total of 37500 cross bureau passenger car express trains have been operated, sending 41.18 million tons of goods, a year-on-year increase of 38%, accurately adapting to the efficient circulation needs of the unified national market. Eight fully tracked demonstration lines have been established in the iron water intermodal transportation sector, and 244 new iron water intermodal single system projects have been launched on the 95306 platform this year. The volume of container iron water intermodal transportation has increased by 8.9% year-on-year.

In the first three quarters of the railway public intermodal transportation sector, the transportation volume reached 348 million tons, a significant increase of 54% year-on-year. Thirteen public welfare driver's homes were built and put into use to provide free rest services for the bus drivers connecting the two ends. The operation of cross-border channels remains stable, with 16000 China Europe freight trains operating in the first three quarters, a year-on-year increase of 15%, 11000 Central Asian freight trains operating, a year-on-year increase of 2%, and the number of rail sea intermodal trains on the Western Land Sea New Channel exceeding 970000 TEUs. The international intermodal electronic waybill piloted at Suifenhe Port is continuously improving the convenience level of cross-border transportation. Keywords: Western Land Sea New Corridor, Logistics System

From inland mining areas to coastal ports, from domestic trunk lines to cross-border ports, China's railway logistics network by 2026 is continuously optimizing its service capabilities to provide solid support for cost reduction, efficiency improvement, and industrial chain stability for the whole society.Editor/Cheng Liting