China's Ministry of Railways has stated that in the first four months of the current year fixed asset investment in railway construction in China amounted to RMB 89.6 billion ($14.17 billion), down 48 percent, while investment in railway infrastructure totaled RMB 71.7 billion ($11.34 billion), down 54 percent, both year on year. By 2015, the total length of railways in operation in China will reach 120,000 km.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Railways also stated that in the current year up to May 17 it received RMB 20 billion ($3.16 billion) in loans from banks. After years of strong growth, construction and investment in China's railways cooled significantly after a train crash in July 2011 that left 40 people dead and 172 injured.