China will have 1.5 billion railway passengers in 2010, up 25 percent over 2005, according to the Ministry of Railways.

The ministry said rail freight is also growing steadily with volumes expected to rise nearly 30 percent to 3.5 billion tons in 2010.

China's long-and medium-term railway plan provides for 17,000 kilometers of new railway during the 11th-Five-Year Plan period (2006~2010), including 7,000 kilometers for passenger transport.

The rapid development of railways is driven by the country's economic and social growth.

China's urbanization rate will increase to 47 percent in 2010 from 41.8 percent in 2005, and there is a growing trend for big and medium sized cities to become passenger hubs, the ministry said.

(Xinhua News Agency October 8, 2006)