Abstract:

This report explores the opportunities and challenges facing China’s freight railway in better accommodating the shipping needs of various products, based on the comparison with the freight railway in the United States. As the rail system in China seeks approaches to improve its overall service and operation, and to reposition itself as the backbone of the freight system, the experiences of the United States could provide valuable insights. The upgrade of infrastructure, facilities, and equipment could be an approach to boost capacity in the rail system, including longer receiving and departure track length and heavier track axle loads. In addition, the study identified that China could take proactive measures to upgrade shipping capacity and service, along with assessments of the potential use of intermodal transportation for select high-value commodities. Additional work on understanding the freight market is needed for establishing a robust foundation for research and policy formulation.