The Ministry of Railways drafted a plan, which was released Friday, to build 10,000-kilometers of railways from 2006 to 2010, bringing the country's total railway length to 85,000 kilometers.

The plan calls for building more than 5000 kilometers of railways solely for passenger transport, and for "double tracking" 4000 kilometers of existing lines in the five-year period.

The ministry also planned to electrify 6000 railways in the next five years.

Of the total 85,000-kilometer railways, double track lines will amount to 35,000 kilometers and electric lines, 35,000 kilometers.

As its main tasks for the next five years, the ministry will build eleven new passenger lines and improve the existing seven corridors across the country.

Also according to the plan, China's railways will be improved to carry 1.5 billion tons of coal by 2010.

(Xinhua News Agency March 25, 2005)