China plans to have more than 500 indigenously-made high speed trains in operation by this year, averaging speeds of up to 155 mph.

The new system will help boost passenger capacity by 18 percent and cargo capacity by 12 percent. China has a 48,000-mile railway system.

The ministry said 280 high-speed trains will be put into service next week, and the total will be raised to 514 by the end of the year.

The ministry said travel time between major cities will be cut by half with the faster trains. The current average speed of trains is 72 mph.

Source:佚名