Resource information
The Institute of Comprehensive Transport
(NDRC) and the World Bank jointly carried out a study of
urban rail development in China. The joint study team
visited several selected cities that have developed or are
developing urban rail systems, including Beijing, Chongqing,
Wuhan, Changsha, Hangzhou, and Zhengzhou, and held
discussions with relevant agencies at the central and local
levels. This paper summarizes the key findings. It
highlights the positive outlook for urban rail development
in China and the strengths of China's circumstances and
institutions in responding to that outlook. It also
identifies the key areas where strengthening of institutions
and processes of urban rail planning would enhance the
contribution of urban railways to sustainable urban
development and improve value for money from specific urban
rail investments. It makes seven recommendations aimed at
such strengthening. The study is intended to contribute both
to urban rail policy and planning in China's cities and
also to help the World Bank target its institutional support
in this important sub-sector of China's transport system.
