During the first three quarters, China's rail cargo increased eight per cent year on year to 2.93 billion tonnes and passenger volumes were up 11.6 per cent to 1.43 billion persons, Xinhua reports.

Cargo turnover rose 6.4 per cent to 2.16 trillion tonnes per kilometre.

Passenger volumes totalled to 1.43 billion persons, 11.6 per cent, or 148 million persons more than in the same period in 2010, taking up 75.4 per cent of the target for the whole year of 2011. Passenger turnover grew 8.8 per cent to 751 billion persons per kilometre.

From January to September, the number of daily loaded rail cars averaged 168,112, increasing 7.1 per cent, or 11,192 year on year.