SHANGHAI, Sep 18 (SMM) – China aims to get 80% of major coastal ports, factories and mines with annual freight volume of above 1.5 million mt, logistics parks and most major ports along main lines of the Yangtze River direct rail access by 2020. The rate is expected to rise to 85% by 2025.

The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) earlier this month released a guideline to facilitate the construction of special freight railway routes, in a bid to upgrade transportation structure across the nation and combat air pollution.

A slew of railway routes will be built to connect major ports, large factories and mines, and logistics hubs, and key projects in 2019-2020 total 1,586 kilometers, according to the list along with the guideline.