China unveils railway sci-tech innovation plan for 2026-2030

China, which operates the world's largest high-speed rail network, has issued a railway science and technology innovation plan for the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026–2030).

This innovation plan outlines key tasks in basic research and frontier technologies, engineering construction, technical equipment, transport services, digital and intelligent railways, safety, and green and low-carbon development.

Recently released by the National Railway Administration (NRA), the plan proposes to establish, in principle, by 2030 a science and technology innovation system that leads railway modernization.

During the 2026–2030 period, China plans to build about 30 new railway industry science and technology innovation bases under the NRA, achieve breakthroughs in no fewer than 100 key core technologies, and produce at least 500 major scientific and technological achievements.

The plan also calls for developing at least 20 typical application scenarios or demonstration projects in areas such as the operating system for 400 km/h high-speed trains.

Regarding technical equipment, the plan proposes to steadily and orderly advance research into 600 km/h high-speed maglev technology, as well as the testing and verification of key technologies for domestic production.

In transport services, the plan aims to upgrade the official 12306 ticketing platform from a single ticket-buying service to a provider of intelligent services covering the entire journey.

This includes offering one-stop intermodal travel solutions tailored to passengers' "personalized, differentiated and diversified" needs.

China will accelerate the development of large models, datasets and computing power infrastructure for the railway industry.

According to the plan, it will establish at least 20 high-quality industry datasets and more than 20 typical artificial intelligence application scenarios.

For green and low-carbon development, the plan calls for promoting demonstration operations of low-emission, low-fuel-consumption diesel locomotives, as well as locomotives and rolling stock powered by multiple energy sources, including batteries and hydrogen.

It also calls for establishing and improving a carbon management system and helping total railway carbon emissions peak by 2030.