THE slowdown in China's economic growth has translated into a significant year-on-year decline in rail freight volumes, according to official data released by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) on January 26.

In 2016 governments from around the world will begin to outline their plans to achieve the ambitious carbon emissions reduction targets outlined in the COP21 Paris Agreement. Kevin Smith assesses what the agreement could mean for rail.

CHINA Railways Corporation (CRC) announced on January 17 that it has set itself a fixed asset investment target of Yuan 800bn ($US 121.6bn) for the third consecutive year.

CHINA Railways Corporation (CRC) has awarded Bombardier Sifang Transportation (BST), a joint venture of Bombardier and CRRC's CSR Sifang Rolling Stock, a Yuan 1.1bn ($US 169.8m) contract to supply five 16-car CRH1E-250 high-speed sleeper trains.

CHINA Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) has awarded Hollysys Automation Technologies a Yuan 483.8m ($US 74.9m) contract to supply Automatic Train Protection (ATP) equipment for 179 high-speed trains being built for China Railway Corporation.

CHINA's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) gave the go-ahead on September 11 for three new lines in central and southwest China, representing a total investment of Yuan 142.8bn ($US 22.4bn).

CHINA launched passenger services on its most northerly high-speed line on August 17 with the start of commercial operations on the Harbin - Qiqihar line in Heilongjiang province.

CHINA Railway Corporation has awarded a Yuan 118.7m ($US 19.1m) contract to Hollysys Automation Technologies, China, for on-board and lineside high-speed signalling equipment.

CHINA Railways Corporation (CRC) says China has invested more than Yuan 265.1bn ($US 42.67bn) in domestic railway construction in the first half of 2015, an increase of 12.7% from the first half of 2014. In the first six months of the year, operations commenced on 2226km of new lines.

A memorandum of cooperation between China and Russia was signed in the Kremlin on May 9 which Russia's Tass news agency says will result in China investing Roubles 104bn ($US 2bn) in the Roubles 1 trillion Moscow – Kazan high-speed project.