Transportation serves as a crucial perspective for understanding socio-economic linkages and characterizing spatial interactions. China's transportation infrastructure has consistently ranked among the world's leading levels, holding the second position globally in railway mileage and the first in high-speed railway (HSR) mileage. According to statistics from the Ministry of Transport, by the end of 2018, the total operating railway mileage nationwide reached 131,000 kilometers, with a railway network density of 136.0 kilometers per 10,000 square kilometers. The positive impacts of railway development are multifaceted: from a regional development perspective, the opening of railway stations shortens the time distance between cities, enhances inter-city transportation convenience, facilitates the sharing of infrastructure and service functions among cities, improves the flow and allocation efficiency of passenger traffic (人流), freight logistics (物流), and information flow (信息流), and fosters new patterns of regional economic development. From a societal standpoint, the increased efficiency of passenger travel and freight circulation further promotes overall economic growth, cultural exchange, and environmental protection. These effects are particularly pronounced in the development of high-speed railways compared to conventional railways.
As Martin Raiser, World Bank Country Director for China, stated:
"China has built the world's largest high-speed rail network, whose impacts extend far beyond the railway sector itself. It has catalyzed transformations in urban development patterns, boosted tourism, and stimulated regional economic growth. The general public can now travel more conveniently and reliably than ever before. The construction of the high-speed rail network also lays the foundation for future reductions in greenhouse gas emissions."
The economic, social, media, and environmental impacts stemming from high-speed railway development constitute a valuable academic "gold mine" worthy of exploration. The Railway Train Timetable Data provided by CnOpenData encompasses all train schedule information from 12306 (with multiple versions available for different years: 2007, 2011, 2013, and annually thereafter), including timetables and train information tables for D, G, C, T, K, Z, and other train categories. Additionally, CnOpenData has compiled comprehensive lists of all high-speed rail routes and the opening timelines of individual HSR stations.
Time Coverage
2007, 2009-2024
Field Display
Historical Train Timetable Data
Train Information Table Data Fields
HSR Station Opening Table Fields
HSR Route Table Fields
Sample Data
Historical Train Timetable Data Sample
Train Information Table Data Sample
HSR Station Opening Table Sample Data
HSR Route Table Sample Data
Related Literature
- Wang Yongjin, Hou Yuntao., 2022: "Population Mobility and Intercity Commodity Price Differences: Evidence from High-speed Rail Opening," World Economy, No.1.
- Long Yu, Zhao Hailong, Zhang Xinde, Li Yao, 2017: "Risk Investment in the Context of Space-time Compression: High-speed Rail Operation and Changes in Regional Venture Capital," Economic Research Journal, No.4.
- Tang Yihong, Yu Feng, Lin Faqin, Zhang Mengting, 2019: "China's High-speed Rail, Trade Costs, and Enterprise Exports," Economic Research Journal, No.7.
- Zhang Jun, 2017: "High-speed Rail Construction and County Economic Development: A Study Based on Satellite Nighttime Light Data," China Economic Quarterly, No.4.
- Zhang Mengting, Yu Feng, Zhong Changbiao, Lin Faqin, 2018: "High-speed Rail Network, Market Access, and Enterprise Productivity," China Industrial Economics, No.5.
- Zhang Xun, Wang Xu, Wan Guanghua, Sun Fangcheng, 2018: "A Comprehensive Framework for Transportation Infrastructure Promoting Economic Growth," Economic Research Journal, No.1.
- Zhao Jing, Huang Jingchang, Liu Feng, 2018: "High-speed Rail Opening and Stock Price Crash Risk," Management World, No.1.
- Donaldson, D. and R. Hornbeck, 2016, “Railroads and American Economic Growth: A 'Market Access' Approach”, Quarterly Journal of Economics, Vol.131, 799-858.
Data Update Frequency
Annual Updates