China State Railway Group: China rail passenger traffic 1.969 billion Jan-May, +5.7% YoY

China's railway system reported a record 1.969 billion passenger trips between January and May 2026, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 5.7% compared to the same period in the previous year, according to the China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. This growth underscores the continued expansion of rail travel in the country, driven by domestic and international demand.

Daily operations also saw a significant uptick, with an average of 11,243 trains in service per day during the period, representing a 7.5% increase compared to the prior year. The peak in passenger traffic occurred on May 1, 2025, the first day of the five-day May Day holiday, when 13,752 trains were deployed to accommodate over 23 million passenger trips, setting new single-day records.

International passenger traffic has also shown robust growth, with 7.67 million trips made by foreign nationals in the first five months of 2025, a 29% increase year-on-year. This trend aligns with China's broader efforts to expand its visa-free policies and attract more international visitors. Cross-border rail services, such as the China-Laos Railway, also experienced notable growth, with 124,000 passenger trips recorded, a 24.2% increase compared to the previous year.

The government has emphasized the importance of integrating railway infrastructure with tourism development, as outlined in recent policy directives, which aim to enhance service consumption and promote economic activity. These initiatives are expected to further support the growth of rail passenger traffic in the coming years.