Overview of the Rail Transit Equipment Industry

Rail transit equipment refers collectively to the various types of equipment required for railway and urban rail transit operations. Serving as a primary vehicle for public transportation and bulk transport, this sector falls under high-end equipment manufacturing. It encompasses a wide range of electromechanical equipment-including rolling stock, engineering and track maintenance machinery, safety systems, communication and signaling systems, traction power supply systems, and operations management systems-and is categorized into two main segments: railway transit equipment and urban rail transit equipment. China's rail transit equipment manufacturing industry exemplifies innovation-driven growth, intelligent transformation, foundational strengthening, and green development; it is a sector characterized by a high degree of independent innovation, strong international competitiveness, and significant industry-wide ripple effects.
In 2024, fixed-asset investment in my country's railways totaled RMB 850.6 billion, a year-on-year increase of 11.3%. By the end of 2024, 58 cities across mainland China had launched urban rail transit systems, with a total operating network length of 12,160.77 kilometers. The market size of my country's rail transit equipment industry was approximately RMB 776.6 billion in 2020 and is projected to reach around RMB 1,211.2 billion by 2025. In the first half of 2026, the number of newly established enterprises in the urban rail equipment manufacturing sector rose by 4.4% year-on-year. During the same period, 28,000 new enterprises were established in the national high-end equipment manufacturing sector-a 2.5% increase-with the intelligent equipment manufacturing sub-sector growing by 6.4%.
my country's rail transit equipment industry is categorized into railway transit equipment, urban rail transit equipment, and other rail transit equipment. Railway transit equipment accounts for the largest share, holding 46% of the market, while urban rail transit equipment and other rail transit equipment account for 16% and 38%, respectively.
my country has established a comprehensive rail transit equipment manufacturing system characterized by independent R&D, complete supply chains, advanced equipment, and large-scale operations, integrating R&D, design, manufacturing, testing, and services. China ranks first globally in high-speed railway operating mileage; its high-speed rail technology has achieved a leap from the introduction, digestion, and absorption of foreign technology to independent innovation, and from "catching up" to "leading," becoming a flagship example of my country's high-end equipment going global.
CRRC Corporation Limited is a major global player in the rail transit equipment sector.
The industry is continuously evolving towards greater intelligence, sustainability (green development), lightweight design, modularity, and enhanced safety.