China Railway (CR) has reported progress in reforms across key railway logistics segments, as part of its shift from traditional freight transport toward an integrated railway logistics model, according to a statement published on 12 January 2026. The reforms cover transport organisation, station-based logistics, pricing and settlement mechanisms, and the planning and use of dedicated railway lines.
CR said changes to transport and dispatching production modes include the introduction of a “single-bill system” for intermodal rail-water transport. In the first three quarters of the year, intermodal rail-water container traffic reached 12.778 million TEUs, representing a year-on-year increase of 16.9%.
The reforms also extend to bulk transport operations. In November, China Railway Shenyang launched dedicated bulk grain trains to Shandong. CR stated that the service shortened transport times by two to three days compared with previous arrangements and reduced overall logistics costs relative to road transport.
According to CR, the broader reform programme aims to improve coordination between supply and demand across railway logistics services, including station operations and the use of dedicated industrial and logistics sidings.
