Since the founding of People's Republic of China, just like other sectors, the railways have been developed greatly. By the end of 2004, the mileage of railways in service has been increased from the 22,000 miles before 1949 to 74,408 miles, among which the mileage of double-track line is 24, 908 miles and the double-track rate is 33.5%; the mileage of the electrified line is 19,303 miles and the rate is 25.9%. Up till now, in the mainland China, except for the Tibet Autonomous Region (the Qinghai-Tibet Railway is just under construction), every province, autonomous region and the municipality are all open to railway transportation.

By the end of 2004, the number of locomotives owned by the Chinese railways is 17,022, among which, diesel locomotive is 11, 872, electric locomotive is 4, 887, steam locomotive is 263, and the proportion of diesel locomotive is 98.5%. The 18 railway administrations all have the internal electric locomotives to provide the traction force. There are 41, 353 passenger coaches and 526, 894 freight wagons.