国家发展改革委印发意见：推进城际铁路健康可持续发展

Core Viewpoint - The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) has issued the first official document aimed at promoting the healthy and sustainable development of intercity railways, emphasizing policy guidance and support for higher quality and sustainable growth in this sector [1] Group 1: Key Content of the Opinion - The intercity railway is defined as a key passenger transport method between major cities within urban clusters, primarily catering to short to medium-distance travel needs such as commuting, leisure, and business, with a strict prohibition on using intercity railway projects to disguise the construction of high-speed rail or urban transit systems [2] - New intercity railways must meet a minimum bidirectional passenger flow density of 15 million trips per year, with caution advised in constructing parallel intercity railways to existing mainline railways. Projects in areas where existing intercity railways have not met 50% of expected passenger flow density after five years will be paused [2] - The construction of new intercity railways is generally to be above ground, with design speeds typically ranging from 120 to 200 kilometers per hour [2] Group 2: Implementation and Management - The planning for intercity railway construction will be jointly prepared by provincial development, transportation, and natural resources departments, and submitted for approval to the NDRC [2] - The National Railway Administration is tasked with industry supervision, while local governments are responsible for ensuring project quality and safety. New intercity railway projects must have a minimum capital contribution of 50%, and areas where existing intercity railways have not achieved cash flow balance after ten years will also see new projects paused to mitigate debt risks [2] - A management system will be established with national coordination and provincial responsibility, involving collaboration among various departments and levels of government to ensure effective implementation of intercity railway development [3]