Background Informations:
On 28 December 2006, the State Post Bureau issued a four-piece
set of special stamps, entitled "The Harmonious Railway Construction", with a total face value of 4.8yuan,and at the same time a souvenir sheet with a total face value of 6.0yuan.
Railway is an important infrastructure of a country,a fundamental industry for the national economy,and artery of the comprehensive transport system.The 130-year history of Chinese railway can be divided into two periods.Before the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949,China had built over 20 thousand km railway,of which about 10 thousand km was operational in 1949.The length of China's railway increased rapidly after 1949 under the new government.By the end of 2005,the length of railway lines in operation extended to 75,438km.Especially in the new century,guided by the outlook of scientific development,China has made notable achievements in railway technology innovation.The new Qinghai-Tibet railway that opened to traffic on 1st July 2006 added another glorious chapter to the history of railway construction in the world.The fifth large-scale railway speed acceleration,which began in April 2004 to accelerate its trains to 160km/h,has helped to increase China's passenger and freight transport capacity by18.5 percent and 15 percent,respectively,through the advancements in optimizing the train running time,adjusting the transport service structure,carrying out the close tracking of passenger trains,and reforming the equipment repair methods and labor organization.China will soon begin the sixth nationwide railway speed acceleration,which will increase the train speed to 200km/h and reach the world advanced level in speed acceleration on the existing railways.It will be a historical breakthrough in increasing raiway's transport capacity and enhancing technological and equipment level.
On January 7,2004 the State Council approved the Middle-and Long-term Program for the Railway Network,expressly defining the goals and tasks:By 2020,the length of railroad lines in service will reach 100,000km;busy arteries will have separate lines for passengers and freight;double-track and electric railways will reach 50 percen of the total respectively; the transport capacity will be able to meet the demands of economic and social development;and major technologies and equipment will reach or approach the world advanced level.
China National Philatelic Corporation will release
an FDC.
