19,210 km

length of high-speed railroads in China at the end of 2015

also in takeover talks with Czech Republic’s Skoda Transportation. Any deal would mark the Chinese group’s first takeover of a full-fledged rail transit equipment manufacturer.

Skoda Transportation mainly produces trams, electric locomotives, carriages, electric buses, traction motors and complete drives for traffic systems.

“Widening the international sales network and manufacturing bases in overseas markets can help not only the Chinese rail equipment manufacturer but infrastructure and service providers, who can enhance their localization abilities. Expanded global play could also help gain political and public support through local employment,” said Cheng Hui, a researcher at the Institute of Transportation Research under the National Development and Reform Commission.

By 2015-end, China had built more than 19,210 km of high-speed railroads country-wide, building a solid foundation for an industry that can generate new market growth points during the nation’s 13th Five-Year Plan period.